State ‘must pay’ if schools open to communities

THE Government wants schools to open up more to their local communities, but principals have warned the extra costs should be paid by the State.

Second-level principals said any additional insurance costs should be covered by the Department of Education, because many schools are already struggling to pay premiums.

National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) president Michael Parsons made the call after a recent letter from the department urged the country’s 3,300 primary schools and 400 voluntary secondary schools to make facilities available to their local communities for education and recreation.