Labour's education spokesperson Trevor Mallard said today's bulk funding report contained no new information and nothing which backed up National's ideological position on the issue.

"Since the bulk funding of schools began, schools that have received more money like getting that money. That is by far the main reason that any school opted into the system.

"To a lesser extent, they also like the flexibility that bulk funding offers.

"Labour's education policy enhances both of these. Because we do not believe in bribing schools, all the money that has been set aside for bulk funding will go directly into schools using a fair formula.

"We will have minimum staffing requirements and we will guarantee the salary for those staff. Schools will have the flexibility to use the additional funding as they see fit but we don't want schools to be in a situation where they are encouraged to employ the cheapest applicant over the best person for the job," Trevor Mallard said.

Trevor Mallard also warned school principals to be careful when considering whether or not to distribute among parents a letter from the Bulk Funded Schools' Association.

"I regard the material as urging parents to vote for National and I think schools should be very wary about distributing it. It is extremely misleading. I note that nowhere does the association admit that Labour's policies will put $360 extra into schools over the next three years, even though I have personally briefed them on our policy.

"Over 80% of New Zealand schools will be better off financially under a Labour Government," Trevor Mallard said.

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