Last year Roncalli College was permitted to increase its maximum roll from 495 to 520 students even though a demographic decline is predicted for Timaru and some state schools have declining rolls. Another integrated school, Craighead Diocesan School was granted an increase for its maximum roll in 2008 and is now making an application for a further increase.
The Timaru Herald reports that the Ministry of Education recommended to the Education Minister – in one case, Chris Carter, and in the second case, Anne Tolley – that both roll increase applications be declined. The Ministry warned Mrs Tolley late last year that increasing Roncalli’s roll would add to the surplus capacity already at other schools, particularly Timaru Girls’ High School.
On Monday Roncalli principal Chris Comeau said : “We do not see ourselves in competition with other schools in the area because they all offer a good education. We trade on the fact that Catholicism is at the root of our core business and this is important to our community.”
Source
The Timaru Herald
Photo Credit
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