SC Museum’s fortunes improve

Fortunes have improved for the South Canterbury Museum and it’s heritage education service, which could have a Ministry of Education funding contract signed this week.

About a month ago the ministry confirmed it had not sought a contract with the museum as part of its Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom (LEOTC) initiative.

The museum, whose three-year LEOTC contract expires this year, had proposed an $80,000 per annum contract. News of the declined contract had worried schools, which believed they would have to go to Dunedin or Christchurch for the same service.

However, museum director Philip Howe said a contract could be signed on Tuesday, depending on how a phone meeting with the ministry went earlier that day.

‘‘We are currently just negotiating the details of a new contract,’’ Howe said. ‘‘We’re hoping to keep the present service running as widely as possible.’’

He was pleased to announce there would definitely be a heritage education service next year. The loss of the service had been a source of concern for schools and museum staff as they were worried it would be cut following the contract decline. The museum has run a LEOTC programme for more than 10 years.

Howe had not ruled out looking at alternative funding as it was likely the contract would not be for the same amount. This meant the education service could have a different look next year, but ‘‘we’ll have that sorted out once we’ve got the contract finalised’’.

Ministry early learning and student achievement head Karl Le Quesne confirmed a contract was being negotiated with the museum.

‘‘Once we settled negotiations with other providers, we were able to contact the South Canterbury Museum to offer an opportunity to continue its ... LEOTC services,’’ Le Quesne said. ‘‘We are looking forward to a positive outcome.’’