News

New Zealand Education Private and Public Schools Funding Resources.

20 August 2013

When it comes to education everybody wants what is best, what is the best for their children, best for the interests of the Country and economy, so when it comes to the New Zealand Education private and public schools funding resources there is more than one “School of Thought”, pardon the pun.

What is an important factor to remember is that public schools in New Zealand are nationally funded. In charge of this is the Ministry of Education, with funds being directed for staff salaries, school transport assistance, operation grants and for school property (Maintenance and Operations).

Private Schools account for approximately 3.4% of students in New Zealand and are feeling the brunt of the current economy as more and more are closing or being forced to be integrated in to the state school system. Private Schools, unlike their counterparts, Public Schools, do charge their students fees, as well as receive in the region of 40% of their funding from the government. (Should this funding not be given to the public sector where the majority, over 95% of students will benefit?) Once again this is certainly a hot topic also is the decline in Private Schooling having an effect on the overall education and development of the youth of today becoming the leaders, workers and entrepreneurs of tomorrow?

New Zealand has had for the past 15 years or so in place a system to performance manage school administrators and teachers, run by the NZSTA (New Zealand School Trustees Association) and its primary goal is to ensure that standards are met in both primary and secondary schools, but is this enough to ensure that everyone is receiving the necessary foundations in providing an adequate education?

Whatever the outcome of the current debate over public and private schools it is clear that there should be only one prime directive and resolution and that is that we look after the youth of today as they are the leaders of tomorrow.