Budget Initiatives Come At The Expense Of Working Women

Secondary teachers welcome some of the initiatives announced in the Budget today, including changes to the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS) and an increase in alternative education funding, but deplore the way these have been funded, says Chris Abercrombie, PPTA Te Wehengarua president.

“We can’t ignore the fact that any gains to education from the Budget are being largely paid for with tainted money – money that was set aside to fund the just pay equity claims of almost 200,000 workers in Aotearoa New Zealand, says Chris Abercrombie, PPTA Te Wehengarua president. It will be a constant reminder of the depths this Government is prepared to stoop to, to pay for unaffordable promises it made to win power.”

“The ORS changes have been long asked for and will make a significant difference to the serious needs of thousands of children and young people. However, secondary schools also desperately need more pastoral care staff and guidance counsellors to help rangatahi navigate complex issues and situations that are affecting their ability to learn and engage with school.

“There will be many secondary schools without learning support coordinators who will be wondering why they have been left out. Students and whānau need for support doesn’t stop when they reach a secondary school gate.

Chris Abercrombie said it was not surprising – due to numerous leaks – but still deeply concerning to see the Government doing away with kāhui ako, or communities of learning in order to fund other initiatives. Kāhui ako focus on transition, attendance and learning support, so are essential for ensuring the very students targeted by government initiatives in this budget can succeed at secondary school.

“Kāhui ako provide an alternative and greatly valued career path for about 4000 skilled and experienced teachers around the motu, many of whom may well leave teaching now, exacerbating our secondary teacher shortage. It should have continued to be funded, alongside new initiatives.

“We are pleased to see some increase in funding for alternative education – one of the most drastically underfunded areas of our secondary education system. There is a rapidly increasing need for a properly funded and resourced end-to-end system of support for young people at risk of disengaging from education. Funding for alternative education places has not increased for many years, while need has skyrocketed, so we welcome this – but wish it was a lot more.”

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