Hekia Parata needs a very big reality check if she truly believes every parent has the choice of sending their child to a private school, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

Questioned in the House today about plans to pump more taxpayer cash into private schools Hekia Parata said she had no qualms about it as they were a “legitimate choice” for every parent.

Plans to give more taxpayer money to private schools at a time when state schools are struggling to make ends meet says everything about the National Government’s twisted priorities, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“Not only did this year’s Budget freeze operational funding for state schools, but 86 per cent of secondary school principals say they don’t get enough funding, and the demand for school donations from parents is rising at 10 times the rate of inflation.

Parents will pay more for their kids’ education as a result of this year’s Budget after the Government froze operational funding for schools, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“This means schools are effectively going backwards. They will need to make up the shortfall somewhere and that will mean even more financial pressure on parents. The costs of education are already rising at 10 times the rate of inflation.

The Government must substantially increase funding for secondary schools in next week’s Budget after a new survey found 86 per cent of principals consider their college under-resourced, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“Just 14 per cent of secondary principals told the New Zealand Council for Educational Research their schools had sufficient funding. And 51 per cent said funding was a major issue.

The Government must address the inequality laptops and tablets in classrooms are causing after a Queenstown school was forced to use a donation from an overseas investor to get their students digital devices, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins.

“Documents obtained by Labour show the decile 10 Wakatipu High School used a $100,000 donation after identifying up to 30 per cent of its students’ parents would need assistance to purchase digital devices. The college used $30,000 of the donation to train its teachers in e-learning.

Parents are having to fork out even more for their kids’ education after the Government cut school funding per student by $150 in the past year, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“According to the Education Ministry, its total per student funding to schools fell from $7,195 to $7,046 in 2015.

The Government must ensure all international students coming to New Zealand are legitimate after a survey of those approved in Mumbai found only 9 per cent had genuine intentions and met English language requirements, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“The 2014 survey obtained by Labour under the Official Information Act was conducted after a surge of 81 per cent more approvals was red flagged by authorities. It is absolutely shocking that of the 221 approvals audited, only 9 per cent met the criteria.

Charter schools have been a costly experiment that has distracted attention and diverted resources away from the vast majority of Kiwi kids attending public schools, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“Today my Members Bill to abolish the charter school model has been drawn from the ballot. I welcome this opportunity to debate the issues.

There are serious questions about the rogue actions of the School Trustees Association which is taking controversial stances without the mandate of its members, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins.

“Labour welcomes the Association withdrawing its submission against paid parental leave extensions after it became clear it had failed to consult any of its school boards about its stance.

The current school decile funding system needs to change but any new system mustn’t stigmatise children from the age of three, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“The decile funding system is a blunt instrument and can wrongly be seen by parents as a rating of school quality.