That could well be the report card earned by 1243 primary schools which participated in a recent national survey on anti-cancer sun protection measures.
The survey results highlight the need for state funding of more shade protection at schools, as a key way to cut the risk of skin cancer, which nearly 500 New Zealanders die from each year.
A new related study on "Sun Protection Policies and Practices in New Zealand Primary Schools", and arising from the survey, emphasises that reducing exposure to excessive ultraviolet radiation among children and young people is the main way of reducing the risk of later skin cancer.
"I know the Government is being pulled in all directions in terms of funding, but I really would like to see some government funding for shade - that would be a big thing for schools," study first author Bronwyn McNoe said yesterday.
"Maintenance funding and capital funding from Ministry of Education is under so much pressure that shade is never a priority," Ms McNoe, of the University of Otago's Cancer Society Social and Behavioural Research Unit, said.
New schools should have shade "built into the design from the start", and existing schools should be able "to access priority funding for shade development", she said.
Skin cancer, New Zealand's most common cancer, was "highly preventable" but "really expensive to treat because of the huge number of cases".
"Investment now can have long-term benefits and has the greatest potential for gain," she said.
The study, published today in the New Zealand Medical Journal, points out "there is no public funding for the provision of shade or other sun protective resources in school".
Most schools had "sufficient shade for passive activities like eating lunch" (60%), but fewer had sufficient shade for active pursuits, such as using the playground (14%).
Since an earlier survey in 2009, several improvements had been made, including having a sun protection policy (94% in 2017, up from 58%), and in the requirement to wear a sun-protective hat (88%, up from 74%).
The study authors are Ms McNoe, a senior research fellow, and Associate Prof Tony Reeder, also of the cancer centre, in the Otago preventive and social medicine department.
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"The survey results highlight the need for state funding of more shade protection at schools".
What happened to all the money they were given recently?, that was apparently to help the children in their care.
plant a tree ///// use a plastic tree//// it grows faster than plastic one.... sun hats for all.......... our government would say no as they make all the kids look like sports followers/ we cant have that .