Schools gain after race funding hit

Schools are getting an extra $27 million after a Government review of "race-based" education policies.

The Government will axe the $3.3 million ethnicity component of decile funding for schools, but is offering a $27 million operational funding top-up so none are left out of pocket.

It has also signalled that while the ethnicity weighting in district health boards' population-based funding formula will not be removed now, it will be more fully reviewed next year.

Both funding formulas were among the first tranche of ethnically targeted programmes and policies being reviewed by the Government in the wake of National Party leader Don Brash's attack on "race-based" funding.

Public service scholarships targeted at ethnic groups may also go. The Government is seeking further advice on them.

Another six programmes or policies reviewed have been given the thumbs-up.

Race Relations Minister Trevor Mallard said yesterday that the evidence showed those programmes were appropriate and effective.

The results of further reviews will be unveiled early next year.

Mr Mallard signalled early this year that the ethnicity weighting in school decile funding was likely to go. It will be removed before classes restart next year.

About 900 schools will lose a total of $3.3 million as a result of the change. Those with large Maori and Pacific populations will be hit the hardest.

But the Government is attempting to placate schools by offering an extra $10.5 million of decile-linked funding each year and a further $16.5 million in operational funding.

Schools in low socio-economic areas will get a greater increase.

Mr Mallard said there was increasing evidence suggesting that lifting educational achievement for Maori and Pacific Island students was "better done through tailored programmes that addressed certain factors - such as giving teachers the support and the skills to teach students from different backgrounds".

Mr Mallard also announced two initiatives worth $11.5 million to support more effective teaching.

National's education spokesman, Bill English, said his party - which introduced decile funding and its ethnicity component - had forced the Government's hand.

"But the soft bigotry of low expectations in the education sector won't change overnight," he said.

The national president of primary teachers' union NZEI Te Riu Roa, Colin Tarr, criticised the removal of the ethnic weighting, saying research clearly showed there was a need to provide extra support for Maori and Pacific Island students.

While the union welcomed the extra funding, it believed it was time the Government stopped tinkering with school funding and gave it a complete overhaul.

WHAT THEY GET

 

* Auckland Grammar (decile 10): $66,000.

* Avondale College (decile 5): $73,000.

* Mangere College (decile 1): $67,000.