New decile ratings show more kiwi kids living in poverty

New decile ratings show more kiwi kids living in poverty

A shift of 8000 more children into lower decile schools is an indication that more New Zealand families are becoming poorer and that more children are likely to live in low income households.

Decile changes for all schools have been published by the Ministry of Education today.

NZEI Te Riu Roa President Judith Nowotarski says the decile funding system provides much-needed equity funding to schools that have the biggest proportion of children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

"School deciles reflect the socio-economic make-up of their communities, not the quality of schooling. In New Zealand’s poorer communities, our schools are the success stories for children and their families, “ she says.

“Equity funding is an important component of schools being able to ensure all children can participate more equitably in learning activities and school life."

She says the Minister of Education is wrong to suggest that decile funding is a blunt instrument.

“On the contrary, the decile system generally well reflects the socio-economic make-up of the communities living around their schools. However, we welcome the Minister’s decision to review how the system can be improved.”

This view is strongly supported by school principals.

An NZEI survey of principals showed that more than 80 percent of respondents supported an increase in targeted equity funding.

More than 75 percent wanted to see a decile system that reflected an even stronger link to socio-economic factors. Around 70 percent of principals supported improved funding to Maori and Pasifika learners and 98 percent wanted to see improved funding for learners with special needs. There was overwhelming opposition to any funding system linked to student results.

“Any changes to decile funding must result in children and schools in disadvantaged communities getting a fairer go, not being worse off," Ms Nowotarski says.

“But school funding alone cannot solve inequity and poverty. It needs to be seen in the context of economic and social policy that addresses low incomes, unaffordable housing and food insecurity.”

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