Budget featherbeds private schools, ignores tail

28 May 2009

Media Release:

Budget featherbeds private schools but ignores education’s biggest problem – the long tail of underachievement

Private schools (teaching just 3.5% of New Zealand students) are the biggest winners from National’s 2009 budget with a $35 million boost in funding on top of the $40 million they received under the previous government.

Meanwhile education’s biggest problem – the long tail of underachievement in schools in low-income communities receives no specific mention and only incidental resourcing through general literacy and numeracy funding which amounts to just $36 million.

In fact additional funding for public schools (teaching 96.5% of New Zealand children) amounts to just $170 million with almost half this figure ($80.1 million) to meet the rate of inflation for operations funding.

The public will be able to understand the maths:

Private schools
$35 million for 3.5% of children
Public schools
$170 million for 96.5% of children

QPEC does welcome the extension of early childhood education funding to Kohanga Reo and Playcentres. We have long called on the previous government to address this anomaly.

We also welcome the $51 million for children with special education needs who are approved for ORRS (Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Scheme) funding. This will alleviate the pressure on the Special Education Grant and give a bit more breathing space for schools.

However there is still no sign of changes in the funding mechanisms for special education which are at the heart of the problem for children parents and schools.

ENDS

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