Alliance Party media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday 31
October 2007

The Alliance Party has attacked the Government's handling of funding
changes to schools.

Alliance Party education spokesperson Richard Wallis says the
decision to cut funding to a large number of schools will have a
detrimental affect on the education of the affected students.

“The Government’s handling of the funding changes that resulted from
the review of the decile system shows once again that the Labour
Government does not take education seriously,” says Alliance Party
Spokesperson, Richard Wallis.

Mr Wallis says if the Government were serious about a high quality
education for all New Zealand children, they would invest more in
their education, not put it in jeopardy by cutting funding to schools.

"How are schools supposed to budget effectively if their funding is
being adjusted at the whim of the Government?"

Mr Wallis says all schools whether they have had their funding cut or
not should challenge this decision.

He says New Zealand’s schools have been seriously under funded for
too long.

The Alliance Party policy is to ensure that all schools receive the
funding they require to make the free education that is enshrined in
law an actual reality.

Mr Wallis says funding for a truly free education system would come
from a progressive taxation system and a change in Government
spending priorities.

ENDS

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