11. SU’A WILLIAM SIO (Labour—Māngere) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
Is she prepared to back up her support for literacy programmes by funding the expansion of the Manukau Family Literacy Programme, a programme that PricewaterhouseCoopers says has already boosted the income of participating families by an average of $200 per week?
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) Link to this
The City of Manukau Education Trust’s request for funding for brokerage and administration for this programme was initially declined, as it did not fit in any of the current funding forms run by the Ministry of Education and the Tertiary Education Commission. However, the Government is committed to finding a way to support the programme, and I have instructed the Ministry of Education to work with the trust on a solution that allows the programme to continue.
When will she make her final decision, and is she aware that if the City of Manukau Education Trust does not receive the minimal investment of $35,000 this week, the Manukau Family Literacy Programme, as upheld by PricewaterhouseCoopers, will fold?
I repeat that I have instructed the Ministry of Education to work with the trust to find a way to support that programme. I understand that discussions are happening as we speak.
H V Ross Robertson Link to this
Can the Minister confirm that the $350,000 sought by the City of Manukau Education Trust—COMET—for a programme recognised by her as a high-quality programme has been declined; if so, why has the Prime Minister told the trust to go back to her, saying that she should look harder?
I repeat what I said in answer to the primary question. The trust’s request for funding for the brokerage and administration for this programme was initially declined because it did not fit any of the current funding models within the Ministry of Education and the Tertiary Education Commission. I have instructed the ministry to work with the trust to find a way to support the programme, and it is working on that as we speak.
Carmel SepuloniGiven that the Minister is looking to backtrack on her decision to cut funding to the Manukau Family Literacy Programme, are there any other ill-considered decisions that she has made that have been overturned by the Prime Minister that the public should be aware of; if so, what are they?
Given that the Minister is looking to backtrack on her decision to cut funding to the Manukau Family Literacy Programme due to the Prime Minister’s intervention, does this mean that the other ill-considered decisions she has made, such as cuts to adult and community education funding, will also be reviewed?
Mr SPEAKERI am afraid that by my reckoning all the supplementary questions available to Labour today have been used.
Leave is sought to ask a further supplementary question. Is there any objection? There is objection.
I seek leave through you, Mr Speaker, to table a PricewaterhouseCoopers report outlining the significant dollar value for dollar investment in the Manukau Family Literacy Programme.