10. KATHERINE RICH (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
Will he be providing transitional funding to help all schools hit by a sudden cut in decile funding?
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Education) Link to this
I am aware that as a result of demographic changes recorded in the 2006 census, a third of schools will see their decile funding increase, while a further third will have no change, and a third will experience some decline. All schools will, of course, have a 4 percent increase in their operational grant next year. Approximately 80 of the 2,500 schools are significantly affected by the changes to decile funding, which makes up just 11 percent of their school operational funding. The changes mostly involve declines of between $7,500 and $14,000. I have asked officials to report to me on how we can provide support on a case by case basis.
Does the Minister not understand that although some schools won extra funding as a result of decile changes, this is of no consolation to a school that faces decile cuts with only 3 months to prepare, and how does cutting funding to a cluster of South Auckland schools by some $500,000 help those schools deal with lifting students’ achievements, funding, teacher shortages, and other problems?
The member did not listen to my first answer to her question. Approximately 80 schools are affected. There are, of course, many that have increased their funding. As I said in my primary answer, we will look at it on a case by case basis, and if there is a case for transitional funding or, actually, even extra funding, we will look at that.
Dianne YatesI have seen a report containing the following comment: “I loved being a principal of a bulk-funded school. It worked superbly well … I am personally very solidly committed to it.” Indeed, those comments were repeated in this House today by National’s junior education spokesperson, Allan Peachey, totally contradicting his leader and the education spokesperson, Katherine Rich, both of whom say they oppose bulk funding. What is National’s policy on bulk funding? Teachers and parents around New Zealand must now be wondering about that question.
Does the Minister think that cutting $500,000 from the budgets of a group of South Auckland schools makes it easier or harder to cater for the needs of those South Auckland students, when a critical shortage of teachers is hitting South Auckland, and some South Auckland primary schools report having a different relieving teacher in front of students every day?
I remind the member again that we will look at the small number of schools in the total number of New Zealand schools that are affected by this, on a case by case basis. Of course, the National Party has very little credibility on school funding; not only does it seem to want to bring back bulk funding, but also the deputy leader, Mr English, said that decile 1 and 2 schools were awash with cash.
Let us try this one again. How will cutting $500,000 from the budgets of a cluster of South Auckland primary schools, without time to prepare for the transition, help those schools in dealing with teacher shortages, lifting student achievements, and the other problems those schools face?