Teachers and principals welcome Labour’s plans to address inequality in education

The Labour party’s plans to give an additional $100 per pupil to schools in lieu of parent donations would make a real difference to many schools and would help address the growing inequality in our school system.

NZEI executive member and principal of May Road School in Mt Roskill, Lynda Stuart says this would be an important step towards creating a more fair and level playing field and ensuring all children continue to get quality public education.

“It would be particularly beneficial for children from lower decile schools. These children deserve the same resources that those from wealthier backgrounds benefit from."

Lynda Stuart says parents in her community work hard to raise funds but simply cannot raise anything like the amount that communities in higher deciles can raise.

“Schools in high decile areas can raise up to $150,000 from a school fair. There’s no way we can do that. Earlier this year we raised $4000 from our school fair and that was with a lot of hard work from our parents. It certainly put a strain on our community.”

Lynda Stuart says at her school just over a third of parents donate.

“I don’t pressure parents for donations because I know many simply cannot afford them and that they give their time and support our school in so many other ways. We have a wonderful community and I am very proud of the way that they support their children’s learning and that is the most important thing.”

She says this policy is on the right track and will help turn around the growing inequality in our school system.

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