Funds for teachers unused

The National Party says a complicated funding system has meant schools missed out on 200 teachers last year.

The party's education spokesman Bill English said figures from the annual New Zealand Schools Report showed there was enough money to fund another 200 full-time teachers, but the money was never accessed.

"Principals tell me the staff banking system is so complicated they can't ... use it properly."

Labour introduced the system when it abolished bulk funding.

A spokesman for Education Minister Steve Maharey said under the staff banking system schools could hold over money to pay for staffing from one year to the next.

This possibly explained any remainder money left in the system at the end of a year, he said.

- NZPA