Media Release
17 February 2009
State shouldn’t bail out private schools – PPTA

State schools struggling with an under-funded operations grant, and the parents who are picking up the shortfall, will be furious if the government starts bailing out elite private schools.

PPTA president Kate Gainsford said it was disturbing to see Wanganui Collegiate – an exclusive private school that charges parents up to $25,000 a year – was considering integrating with the state school system in order to receive government funding.

“This is simply a private business asking the government for a handout because times are financially tough. That money would come from the pool that funds the state schools which desperately need it”.

PPTA appreciated the school infrastructure spend promised by government but felt if money was going to be spent on education it should not be used to prop up failing private enterprises, Gainsford said.
“If the government has the extra money to throw around it should be spent on upping state schools’ operations grants so all of our country’s children can have access to a well resourced education,” she said.

Gainsford said it was a huge waste of tax-payers’ money to support private schools when there were plenty of spaces in state schools throughout the country and plenty of jobs in the sector for teachers.

“We have already received reports from principals that their rolls are increasing with students from private schools. The number of private schools has been declining over the past decade” she said.

Gainsford said bailing out elitist private schools amounted to “a giant subsidy for very wealthy parents who can afford to send their children to schools that 97% of New Zealand parents can’t even contemplate.
“Spending scarce taxpayers’ money on luxury items for a few would go against the tradition New Zealand has of providing high quality education that is meant to be free”.

Gainsford believed integration should mean private schools have no fees, are not allowed to cherry-pick students and take on their fair share of challenging students.

“High quality state education must be the priority,” she said.

ENDS

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