Last updated 05:00 23/06/2012 STUFF The Invercargill District Truancy Service has been extended until December, when the Education Ministry rolls out its new attendance services at the end of term four. In April, The Southland Times reported Invercargill truancy officers had feared for their jobs as the ministry prepared to roll out its restructured truancy model in October. However, Southland truancy officers Lindsay Thomas and Neil Jackson said yesterday they had been told their employment contracts would be extended to December 21. Mr Thomas said the new service was to have been rolled out in 2012 but would now start in 2013. The truancy service, which works with city schools and some rural Southland schools, has been working on truancy rates in the city since 2004. Under ministry plans, the service would combine the functions of District Truancy Service and the Government's national non-enrolled truancy service. Invercargill Student Support Network director Lois Conway said it was taking the ministry longer to get through the process of making the changes for the new model. "The new contract will be ready by December and then we will know who the provider of the new service will be," she said. Mr Thomas said he was happy with the extension. "This means there will be continuity for the young people and their families that we work with, and that was my big concern," he said. He said it took time to build relationships and trust with families and it would have been hard for the families if they suddenly lost the service. | Education Ministry curriculum, education and performance group senior manager Marilyn Scott said there was no delay and the new integrated attendance service would be operational from term one next year. All the existing District Truancy Service agreements and the national non-enrolled truancy service contracts would cease at the end of the year, she said. Proposals from potential providers were now being sought for up to 18 locations. "The Ministry of Education is seeking to engage suitably qualified and capable organisations and it anticipated successful organisations would engage with existing service providers to identify experienced people who had a continued interest in working in the field." She said the national request for the proposal closed on June 29. A successful provider, or providers, would implement the service from October this year to provide services from term one next year. The total funding available for this programme was $7.8 million a year. she said. Ad Feedback - © Fairfax NZ News _________________________________ A few questions that seem to have been missed by reporters.
Statement in report "The Ministry of Education is seeking to engage suitably qualified and capable organisations and it anticipated successful organisations would engage with existing service providers to identify experienced people who had a continued interest in working in the field."
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