School Donations Highlight Underfunding

Alliance Party media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday 17 June 2008

School Donations Highlight Underfunding

Alliance Education spokesperson Richard Wallis says the fact that parents are finding it more difficult to make "donations" to schools only further highlights the needs for schools to be properly funded by the State.

"The fact that only one school in the North Island does not feel the need to charge for what is by law, supposed to be a free education, only reinforces the fact that our schools continue to be under funded and under resourced."

Mr Wallis says parents and communities are usually happy to help out where they can, but to deliberately under fund schools so they are forced to shift the burden onto struggling parents borders on reprehensible.

Excessive schools costs should not be a fact of life, ever, he says.

"The increasing cost of living should be a clear sign to the government that an immediate review of school funding is required."

If New Zealand is to have a free education system, funded by the state and not the parents, then the Government must be prepared to invest the necessary funds.

"I hold no faith in the National Party being prepared to make the necessary commitment either."

ENDS

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