XN000022-1982-12-09 — Page 6

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1982

MORE FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILITY PROPOSED FOR SCHOOL AUTHORITIES

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THE CODES OF AID ARE BEING REVISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SO AS TO GIVE SCHOOLS MORE FLEXIBILITY AND FREEDOM IN DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THEIR AFFAIRS, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE SPEECH DAY OF ST. PAUL'S COLLEGE, MR HAYE SAID THAT FOR YEARS THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR WAYS TO EASE THE RESTRICTIONS WHICH AIDED SCHOOLS FELT THE CODES OF AID HAD IMPOSED ON THEM.

+NOW WE THINK WE CAN TAKE AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD, ALTHOUGH IT MAY NOT BE QUITE AS FAR AS SOME SCHOOL AUTHORITIES WOULD WISH.

+ IF AIDED SCHOOLS WILL ACCEPT THE PROPOSALS IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO TAKE THESE UP FOR APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.

MR HAYE ADDED THAT THE MAJOR DILEMMA IN THE IMPORTANT AREA OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOL AUTHORITIES HAD ALWAYS BEEN HOW TO STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN SCHOOL FREEDOM AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY FOR PUBLIC MONEY.

HE SAID AS DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, I WANT THE SCHOOLS TO HAVE AS MUCH FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILITY AS POSSIBLE IN DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT: BUT I HAVE TO BE EVER MINDFUL OF MY RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THE ATTAINMENT OF APPROVED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES FOR WHICH PUBLIC FUNDS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED.

+THIS RESPONSIBILITY NECESSITATES WITHIN THE CODES OF AID CERTAIN ENABLING POWERS UPON WHICH I CAN RELY FOR THE FULL DISCHARGE OF MY DUTIES BUT LET ME HASTEN TO ASSURE YOU THAT IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF EVENTS, SUCH POWERS WILL RARELY, IF EVER, BE INVOKED AND, IF THEY HAVE TO BE, THEN ONLY AFTER THE FULLEST POSSIBLE CONSULTATION WITH THE PARTIES CONCERNED.+

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