Dr Wayne Mapp
MP for North Shore
MEDIA RELEASE
18 August 2000

Severe funding cuts for North Shore Schools

North Shore MP, Dr Wayne Mapp, says local schools are quite rightly outraged by the Government’s funding announcement and they have every reason to feel aggrieved.

“When schools have their funding cut in such large numbers, there is the possibility that the required cutbacks will result in education standards being compromised. This is simply not good enough. Parents and teachers will today be furious with the Government for reducing their funding for no good reason.

“The Labour-Alliance Government has created huge inequities in the funding for schools across New Zealand. Their insulting funding levels are proof that schools which had previously been bulk funded are being punished. All but one are facing huge losses for next year.

“Some horrific examples are Westlake Girls High School, losing $195,000, Westlake Boys High is down by $95,000 and Rangitoto’s purse will plummet by $300,000. For schools like Glenfield Primary, a decile 6 school which will lose a staggering $100,000, this equates to $192 less per pupil which will have to come from fundraising, parents or cutbacks.

“There is also the added burden of the ERB, where union member teachers are now entitled to 5 paid training days on how unions work per year. It will cost schools an additional $1000 per year, in relief teacher salaries, for each attending union member teacher. These costs, in addition to expensive advertisements required for the new ballot enrolment system and the massive funding losses all spell trouble.

“Just how much more financial pressure can be placed on already stretched budgets without affecting education standards? Bottom line is that it will be the parents who will now be expected to pick up the tab for these enormous funding shortfalls and added expenses.

“The Education Amendment Act has thrown two very volatile issues into the arena for the community to try and cope with. The Labour/Alliance Government may find the biggest backlash yet to come. With Board of Trustees elections due early next year, parents will now be thinking twice about the workload and stress levels this Act is causing,” Wayne Mapp said.

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