4. MOANA MACKEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What increases have there been to school funding since 1999?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) Link to this
Funding for schools has increased from $3.8 billion a year in 1999 to around $5.6 billion in 2006. That is an increase of $1.8 billion, representing a 22 percent increase in real terms. That funding provides for more teachers, more classrooms, more buildings, a range of programmes designed to lift student performance, and an overall boost to operational funding. This Labour-led Government is committed to resourcing schools adequately so that they can deliver a high-quality education for all New Zealand students.
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I have seen a report of comments by the previous National Opposition spokesperson on education, who claimed that low-decile schools “are awash with cash”. In light of recent weeks, this can mean only that a future National Government would slash funding to schools in low-income areas, and replace the funding with the offer of muesli bars delivered by limousine by John Key. [ Interruption]
Madam SPEAKER
Judy TurnerWhat funding increases have been given to reading-recovery teachers, given that a portion of their funding comes from the pressured operations funding?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I do not have the funding figures specifically for reading-recovery teachers but, as the member will know, over the last 7 years the numbers of people who are in those resource areas has increased quite markedly, and along with it, of course, funding has increased as well. If the member puts down a written question, I will supply her with the specifics.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Tēnā koe, Madam Speaker. Kia ora tātou. What response has he to yesterday’s release from the National Council of Women that said: “…the spirit of the law, which is unqualified access to free education, has been sidelined in the application of the Act. … It is surely time to take a good look at the funding of education and come up with a plan for realistic and adequate resourcing right across the board, so that all children can have equal opportunities.”; and when will he announce his school funding plan to address the tragic profile of Māori underachievement, so that Māori children can have equal opportunities?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I would reply to the council that funding has lifted in real terms by 22 percent in 7 years, which is a marked lift in funding. I would point to the operations grant review that took place last year, which is being considered now by the Government with the sector. I would point to a range of programmes that have been put in place that are designed to lift the performance of Pacific groups like Māori. In other words, I think I would refer to our track record of 7 years as being highly successful, and argue that they should not vote for a party that says low-decile schools are awash with cash and should use muesli bars instead.
Dr Pita SharplesTēnā koe, Madam Speaker. Kia ora tātou. Has the Minister read the statements in response to the crisis of Māori underachievement from Paula Rāwiri, acting group manager of Māori at the Ministry of Education, who said that the data is serious and there is no quick fix; would he not agree that the fact that the Hunn report first identified Māori underachievement in 1960 has given sufficient time for a fix to be worked out; and how much longer do Māori have to wait before sufficient funds are invested appropriately in this crisis?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I think the quote is correct. This is serious, and there is a need to do more in this area. I think one of the most important pieces of research about to surface is the one that was mentioned yesterday but has not yet been released, and that is the work by Russell Bishop. In that work he has evaluated the Te Kotahitanga programme, which has shown, in the 59 schools that it is currently in, a dramatic improvement in results for young Māori. We are looking to programmes like that to lift across the board the performance of Māori who have, as the member has said, not been performing as well, and that is down to the system, not down to the students.