Quality Public Education Coalition

After the backdown....where to save money?

Saving $114 million in government spending is now the challenge facing Education Minister Hekia Parata and Finance Minister Bill English following the backdown on plans to increase class sizes.

QPEC suggests that if these savings are needed they can be can be made partly from inside education and we suggest the government start by:

• Removing government subsidies for private schools which enable these schools to keep average class sizes of 12 students while public schools have on average more than double that student teacher ratio. Saving over $60 million per year.

• Scrap the Aspire scholarship scheme which funds private schools to select 250 students ($16,500 each) to bolster private school funding and academic and sporting results. Saving $4.13 million per year.

Any other funded needed should come from higher income earners who currently pay virtually the same tax as those on low incomes if GST is considered alongside income tax.

QPEC does not support stripping funding from other sectors within education to make up the difference.
John Minto
National Chairperson
QPEC