Heritage funding axed Novel start

PAULA HULBURT paula@topsouthmedia.co.nz

Funding for Marlborough schools’ long standing heritage education programme has been axed. Shocked members of Marlborough Heritage Trust (MHT) have revealed the heritage programme in schools will end next month.

The move leaves the future of the 25-year-old programme hanging in the balance as trust members desperately search for a solution.

Speaking on behalf of the MHT, the Marlborough Historical Society, and the Heritage Education Team well known historian John Orchard says the move is an “injustice to Marlborough.”

The Ministry of Education is allocating all funding for the Top of the South Island region, to Nelson and Buller based projects, from Term 3 2022.

“Marlborough is now the only Province to have no Government funding for what was originally known as Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom (LEOTC).

“This seems so unfair to our schools,” John says.