Report highlights need for education reform

National's Education spokesperson Nick Smith says the NZIER report on funding arrangements for independent schools highlights the need for fundamental reform of education, to give parents more choice.

"This report shows the Government's bias against independent schools is driven by ideology and not in the nation's best interests.

"The current funding policy between state, integrated, character and independent schools is riddled with anomalies and needs fresh new thinking, free of dogma.

"The focus must be on getting the very best standard of education for our nation's children," says Dr Smith.

"The real value in this report is that it adds an economic rationale to the strong educational benefits of independent schools. Fairer funding arrangements for independent schools is a win-win policy for both taxpayers and pupils.

"This report provides the robust foundations for a much needed debate on whether the centralised state model of schooling in New Zealand is the best way to build a knowledge economy.

"National will soon be issuing a challenging discussion document on our ideas for schools which builds on this good work and gives a vision for the future," says Dr Smith.

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