Need to take heed of OECD report in school funding

Government needs to take heed of OECD report in school funding review

10 December 2014

The Government needs to ensure that any review of school funding will take account an OECD report that says all children need equal opportunity to access quality education.

The report, just released says New Zealand has one of the fastest growing inequality gaps in the developed world, and this is having a negative effect on our economic growth.

NZEI Te Riu Roa National President Judith Nowotarski says growing inequality and poverty have a huge impact on educational opportunities for children.

“As a kindergarten teacher, I have seen the negative effects of poverty and lack of opportunity on children and their learning.

“Clearly we need a fairer tax system and a sustainable level of benefits so that children can come to school in the right space for learning. Children can’t learn if they are hungry, sick or suffering from the stress of living in a household with inadequate levels of income.”

The OECD report says closing the inequality gap is important, not only to improve social outcomes, but also to sustain long term economic growth.

The Minister of Education has signalled a review of decile funding and Ms Nowotarski says it is important that any changes to school funding help reduce the inequality gap by ensuring better targeting of resources to schools that need it most.

“The Government needs to take particular note of the OECD report when it says that in order to reduce inequality there needs to be equal opportunity of access to quality education.”

ENDS

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