Mallard’s attack shows Labour’s true colours
National Party Education spokesman Bill English says Trevor Mallard’s spiteful attacks on National in a speech to the
New Zealand School Trustees Association today confirm that Labour has been spending more on bureaucracy than on schools.
“Mr Mallard confirmed that 2700 schools received an increase of $22 million in operational funding in the last budget,
while the Ministry of Education received an increase of $24 million,” says Mr English.
“He tries to muddy the waters by counting increases in teacher salaries as increased money schools can spend.
“Apparently, he has forgotten that his policy of centralised teacher salaries means schools can’t make decisions about
how teacher salaries are spent. Those decisions are made by the Minister and the unions.
“This leaves schools with only a $22 million increase in spending they can control, compared with a $24 million increase
for the Ministry of Education.
“Mallard counts special education staff to try to hide the fact that his priority is bureaucracy ahead of schools.
“He dodges the real issues with the Ministry of Education, which are huge increases in spending on policy advice, up
40%, administration and regulation, up 400%, and core Ministry bureaucrats, up more than 20%.
“The amount of money the Ministry controls for curriculum support and professional development in schools has doubled.
Schools would love to have these kind of increases in their funding.
“National puts funding for schools ahead of funding for bureaucracy.
“Mallard’s speech shows that, like the rest of the Labour Party, he can’t get the message that voters don’t want more
wasteful government spending in education, they want it in schools. That’s National’s priority,” says Mr English.
Ends