Hon Bill English
National Party Education Spokesman
19 May 2006
Budget 2006: Maharey misleads schools
Budget 2006 proves that the Government’s school funding review is a hoax, says National’s Education spokesman, Bill
English.
In election year, Labour came under pressure from schools in financial trouble despite several years of significant
increases in salaries and operations funding. Trevor Mallard set up the Review of Schools Operational Funding to get the
Government off the hook.
But Mr English says this year’s Budget shows Labour has no intention of increasing the operations grant any more than in
recent years.
“The new Education Minister, Steve Maharey, announced that school operational funding will increase by about $24 million
annually for the next four years. That’s about a 2.2% increase per year - far short of expectations in schools.
“A committee of 20 people has met four times, made no progress, and the deadline for a report to Government has already
been extended once.
“Steve Maharey should tell schools and unions the truth. Dr Cullen must have told him there is no more money and they
are wasting their time looking for big increases,” says Mr English.
ENDS