Subsidising Wanganui Collegiate no success story
Chris
HIPKINS
Education Spokesperson
29 August
2013 MEDIA
STATEMENT
Subsidising Wanganui Collegiate no
success story
Vulnerable students in Wanganui are no closer to a ‘Collegiate Education’ despite millions of taxpayer dollars being spent integrating the private school, says Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins.
National’s decision to integrate Wanganui Collegiate into the state system is costing taxpayers more than $3 million annually.
“According to Education Minister Hekia Parata, the bill was ticked-off on the basis that the school would be accessible to a wider number of students. In fact her decision only allows for seven additional places for day students.
“A taxpayer investment of $440,000 per student doesn’t exactly represent value for money,” Chris Hipkins said.
Questioned in Parliament today, Nikki Kaye answering on behalf of the Minister of Education said that the investment was one that ‘backed the provinces’.
“The Minister is drawing a long bow if she is honestly suggesting National’s regional development strategy is to pump public money into private schools.
“There are plenty of existing state schools with surplus places in Wanganui that could have done with some government pocket money – Collegiate isn’t one of them.
“Worse still, on closer
inspection the ‘spaces’ integration supposedly opens up
are not spaces at all. Students eager to attend the school
will be prioritised in order of affiliation.
Applicants
from siblings of current pupils, children of employees and
board members, siblings of past pupils and children of past
pupils will be given preference and only when those channels
are exhausted are other, local applicants
considered.
“The kids that really deserve taxpayer support won’t get a look in. Even if they did the school’s fees, which are in excess of $10,000, will price most families out of the equation.
“Wanganui Collegiate offers select students a quality education. But taxpayers should not have to subsidise its success at the expense of other deserving state schools,” Chris Hipkins said.
ENDS