Principals in Otago expressed concern this week that in order to implement the National Standards in their schools, their boards of trustees were being asked to fund the attendance of support leaders (principals and curriculum leaders) at a one-day workshop.
For some schools, it was going to cost up to $3600.
On top of travel expenses and the cost of hiring relief teachers, schools were expected to pay an $80 registration fee for each person they sent to the workshops.
However, Education Minister Anne Tolley said it was "unacceptable" that some providers were planning to charge a registration fee and she had forbidden it.
"The Ministry of Education has now assured me that there will be no charge for up to three representatives from every school."
Mrs Tolley said the ministry had contacted the course providers to make them aware of the change.
"If school representatives are unavailable to attend on a particular day, they can contact their training provider to arrange an alternative date.
"These courses are not compulsory, and information is also available online."
Teachers requested support to help implement National Standards, which is why the Government reprioritised $26 million in funding for the literacy and numeracy professional development.
"I expect at least 7000 teachers will be provided with in-depth training this year," she said.
"With up to one in five students leaving school without the reading, writing and maths skills they need, children and parents are relying on their teachers to help deliver what is the most exciting change in New Zealand education for 20 years."
Otago Primary Principals Association president Jenny Clarke was delighted with the announcement and believed it would be of some relief to schools.
"For some time, schools had been focusing professional learning budgets for this time on implementing the highly valued revised curriculum.
"However, in the best interests of being well informed about the National Standards, principals feel compelled to redirect some funding to this unwelcomed, imposed initiative.
"So, it really is a strain for many schools to accommodate these expenses at relatively short notice.
"Many feel that it is distracting principals and teachers from our preferred focus of the new curriculum."
