The education policies of the eight parties in Parliament are compared in the table below.
The Herald is covering all the major policy areas in a series running throughout the election campaign.
| Party | Policy | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | Plans to transform the education system by 2014 to keep youth in formal education or training until age 18. Makes schools more flexible and expand programmes such as youth apprenticeships. Pledged to introduce universal student allowance at tertiary level by 2012. Will next year deliver 1:15 ratio for new entrant classes. | |
| National | Introduce a universal education entitlement for 16-and 17-year-rolds giving free access to school-level study in non-school settings, such as polytechnics. Set national standards in literacy and numeracy at primary schools. Tipped to increase private school funding cap. Introduce a 10% repayment bonus on voluntary student loan lump-sum payments of $500 plus. | |
| NZ First | Reduce class size in low decile schools for Years 1, 2 and 3. Review school operations grant, the Ongoing Reviewable Resource scheme funding and the student/teacher ratio for blind and vision-impaired students. Introduce universal student allowance and bonding scheme for graduates with student loans. | |
| Greens | Want a free education system that fosters participation, sustainability, equality and peace. Increase school operations grant by 10%. Reduce class sizes to 20 students in schools and increase teacher-child ratios in preschools. Improve transport to and better support rural schools. | |
| Maori Party | Wants compulsory and free early childhood education from age 4. Review zoning, reduce ratio of students to teachers, set up incentives for reducing under-achievement. Promote whanau engagement in schools. Introduce universal student allowance at tertiary level, cut fees to 'nominal level'. | |
| United Future | Wants free education from age 3 to beyond university. Zero fees for tertiary study from 2010, scrap student allowance to pay for it. Set a minimum number of hours at primary school for literacy and numeracy teaching. Supports raising school leaving age with wider options, such as more trades training. | |
| Act | Create a competitive market. Provide an "opportunity scholarship" equivalent to Government education spending to parents or to school of parents' choice, including private. Set expected standards for students to reach at certain ages. Move curriculum back to basics. | |
| Progressive | Extend 20 hour "free" preschool scheme to 25 hours. Allow graduates who remain in New Zealand to work off student loans. Co-ordinate schools with social, health and employment agencies. Continued commitment to extra resources for low decile areas. | |
