Education sector gets $1.4b Budget boost

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Schools and early childhood education (ECE) will receive a $1.4 billion increase in funding over the next four years.

Today's budget allocated an extra $621.2m towards schools, including $118.1m for operational costs.

An additional $550.3m will be spent on ECE, with a particular focus on increasing participation from Maori, Pacific and low-income families.

Education Minister Anne Tolley said increased funding to education was aimed at building on work done during the past two years, including in ECE, national standards and the Youth Guarantee scheme.

"We are targeting funding to support initiatives that continue to improve out education system, lift student achievement and engage young people in study options that lead to worthwhile qualifications."

Trades and service academies are to receive $66.5m.

An extra $59.7m is to be pumped into school properties, while $51.5m is to go into building infrastructure for ultra-fast broadband in schools.

Mrs Tolley said the budget highlighted the Government's commitment to ECE.

Among the extra funding, $416.7m has been allocated to meet the increased demand from population growth, $61m for cost increases, $20.8m for an early learning information system, and $20.3m to fund ECE for children in care and to extend a home interaction programme.

Another $21.5m will be used to extend the ECE equity fund, which provides additional resources to services with high enrolments of children from priority groups.

"Given the rapid growth in Government spending on ECE funding over recent years, we are continuing to ensure that the system is sustainable and that it is achieving the Government's priorities," Mrs Tolley said.

- NZPA