Zoning, no bulkfunding and reduced funds for private schools

Liz Gordon MP Thu Aug 26 1999

The Alliance will release three main parts of its schools policy tonight in Auckland. One part strikes at the heart of the market model of education, the issue of zoning. The other two parts deal with the controversial issues of private school funding and bulkfunding.

'All children have the right to receive a high quality education in their own neighbourhood, and it is the government's job to ensure that is possible,' Alliance Education spokesperson Dr. Liz Gordon said.

'Students will generally be expected to attend their local school, unless good reason can be shown why another school should be chosen. For example, a child may need access to special education facilities not available nearby.

'However, the Alliance is aware that some schools have been badly affected by the failed market experiment of the past decade, whereas others have blossomed with new facilities and services. We promise not to lock children into such schools. We promise resources to upgrade them.

'We can learn from the private school sector. Funding will be provided for the development of innovative programmes of special needs or academic specialisation in private schools, provided that such services are also offered to students in the public sector.

'But as a general rule, if parents want to send their children to private schools they should not expect public money to follow them.

'The Alliance supports the existence of private schools but notes that, where good public alternatives exist, there is no justification for state funding of the private sector.

'The TIE scheme will be scrapped, although students currently in the scheme will be able to continue in it until their contract expires.

ENDS

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