Government cuts driving increased education costs

green-party

Fri Jan 23 2015 13:00:00 GMT+1300 (New Zealand Daylight Time)

Government cuts driving increased education costs

Friday, 23 January 2015, 12:54 pm
Press Release: Green Party

23 January 2015

Government cuts driving increased education costs, hurting poorer kids

Government cuts to education are forcing more of the burden on to parents and damaging the education of poorer kids, as the cost of primary and secondary education increases by five times the cost of inflation, the Green Party says.

Statistics New Zealand data shows that the cost to parents of primary education rose by 4.6 percent in the past year and by 4.4 percent in secondary education - well above inflation of 0.8 percent.

Green Party commissioned analysis last year also showed the Government's budgeted spend on education and health was falling by $3.8 billion in real terms over the next three years, amounting to a 3 percent funding reduction for each primary school pupil.

"Government funding cuts are forcing more of the burden onto parents who, if they can't pay rising school costs, are resorting to keeping their kids at home," Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said.

"It’s an absolute disgrace that in a country like New Zealand, children from less well off homes are not going to school because their parents can't afford uniforms, fees, or in some cases a school lunch.

"Education is supposed to be a route out of poverty, but under this Government its getting more and more difficult for children from less well-off homes to access the kind of education they need to escape poverty.

"National is pinching money from schools and families in its obsession to reach a surplus, but that will cost all of us in the long run.

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"In May's budget, the Government must take stock of just what it costs to educate our children and ensure schools are funded so that everyone, not just the well-off, can access a good education.

"The Green Party would ensure schools are funded for the real costs of education and that, for children, education is truly free.

"Till then, the Government must look at making hardship grants for school expenses non-recoverable, as families on the lowest incomes can not afford to keep up with the increasing repayments," Ms Delahunty said.

Link to Green Party release on BERL research about the real budget cuts to education and health:
https://www.greens.org.nz/news/press-releases/national-cut-38-billion-health-education-and-environment-spending

Stats NZ CPI data on the costs of education:

Group or subgroup

Series ref: CPIQ

Quarter

2013

2014

% change

Dec

Mar

Jun

Sep

Dec

Dec-Dec

Education group

SE910

1272

1314

1319

1320

1325

4.2%

Early childhood education

SE9101

821

826

843

844

859

4.6%

Primary and secondary education

SE9102

1396

1458

4.4%

Tertiary and other post-school education

SE9103

1335

1383

3.6%

Other education

SE9104

1495

1537

2.8%

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