Most schools will receive funding increases as a result of the Budget 2016 decision to target discretionary funding to schools teaching students most at risk of under-achievement, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

“The final allocations won’t be known until July enrolment data is matched with Ministry of Social Development data, but indicative modelling shows that the overwhelming majority of schools will receive some extra funding.”

The Government will invest around $4 million from Budget 2016 to provide new classrooms in the greater Wellington region, including Wairarapa, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today at Mt Cook School, Wellington.

“The 14 new classrooms to be built across the region are among the 480 new classrooms that were announced as part of Budget 2016 to meet roll growth,” says Ms Parata.

The schools that will receive new classrooms are:

Additional investment in early childhood education, children with special needs, and new schools and classrooms takes annual education spending above $11 billion for the first time, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

“Education is the key to the future and this investment, at a time of low inflation, demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to raising achievement for all our kids,” Ms Parata says.

Budget 2016 delivers extra support to students who need it most, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

“In line with our strategy of directing extra funding to where it is most needed, we are putting an additional $42.1 million of operating funding over the next four years into services for students with special needs,” Ms Parata says.

Budget 2016 uses a Social Investment approach to direct an extra $43.2 million of operating funding over four years to schools educating about 150,000 students most at risk of educational failure, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

The schools targeted for this new funding have students who have spent a significant proportion of their lives in benefit-dependent households.

“Most of these households do a great job of helping their children do well at school,” Ms Parata says.

Budget 2016 provides $882.5 million for school property, comprising $727.3 million of capital funding and $155.2 million of operating funding over the next four years, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye say.

“The package provides for growth across New Zealand, as well as investment in public private partnerships and significant investment in Canterbury. It will provide nine new schools, 480 new classrooms, two school expansions and the relocation and rebuilding of three schools and a kura.”

Education Minister Hekia Parata will today attend a commemorative service on the Greek island of Crete to honour the service and sacrifice of the New Zealanders who fought in the Battle of Crete that began 75 years ago today.

The service will be held at Galatas, the scene of fierce close combat between New Zealand and German alpine troops on the night of 27 May 1941.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye visited Warkworth Primary School in Rodney this morning to officially open the school’s new junior campus.

“All buildings in the junior school have been rebuilt, which means years one to three students and teachers now have a fantastic, innovative environment to learn and work in,” says Ms Kaye.

MP for Rodney Mark Mitchell was also at the official opening of the new campus, which comprises a classroom block containing 16 learning spaces, as well as a hall and administration area.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata have today announced Careers New Zealand will become part of the Tertiary Education Commission in a reform which will result in better and more consistent careers information for school students.

Education Minister Hekia Parata leaves for Greece today to represent New Zealand at the 75th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of Crete.

“The commemorations are an opportunity to honour the service and sacrifice of the young New Zealanders who travelled half way around the world to defend the principle of freedom,” Ms Parata says.

Some 7700 New Zealanders fought in the battle which began on 20 May 1941. Of those  671 died, 967 were wounded, 2180 were taken prisoner and two, Captain Charles Upham and Sergeant Alfred Hulme, won Victoria Crosses.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced the appointment of an advisory group to consider possible changes to the education funding systems.

“The group comprised of school, early childhood education (ECE) and union leaders will test a number of proposed directions for change to improve the ECE and school funding systems to better support our kids to receive the best possible education,” says Ms Parata. “It will hold its first meeting on May 20.”

An extra 1250 students will benefit from extra teacher aides thanks to a $15.3 million Budget 2016 funding increase for in-class support, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“The operating funding increase, to be spread over four years, will ensure that students with a range of learning difficulties receive support tailored to their individual learning needs,” Ms Parata says.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today met with the New Zealand Sign Language Advisory Group and the visiting World Federation of the Deaf Board to mark Sign Language Awareness Week.

“2016 marks 10 years since New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) became an official language of New Zealand and it is used on a daily basis by thousands of people,” says Ms Parata.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says a significant milestone has been reached with more than 1000 schools now in Communities of Learning, supporting more than 320,000 kids.

Ms Parata today announced another 21 communities have been approved, taking the total number to 117.

“We’ve now got over 1000 schools involved in Communities of Learning which is 40 percent of all schools.

“This is magnificent. These communities will help drive up achievement for all kids all the way along the pathway from early learning to senior secondary.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today welcomed the official opening of Rototuna Junior High School in Hamilton.

The school, which caters for Year 7 to 10 students, opened its doors at the beginning of the year with the largest-ever first day intake of students – 634.

“The size of the opening day roll is testament to the vision and hard work of the Establishment Board of Trustees and Principal Fraser Hill,” says Ms Parata, who was due to attend the official opening, but was prevented by fog from getting to Hamilton.

Education Minister Hekia Parata is encouraging parents and others in the community to put themselves forward for School Board of Trustee elections now that nominations have opened.

“In our self-managing education system board members have big say in how our schools are run, what they teach and how they engage with students and the wider community,” says Ms Parata. “I urge all those who think they have something to offer to consider standing for election.

“You don’t need to be a parent or have a child at school but you do need

Education Minister Hekia Parata has congratulated former Rutherford College student Oxana Repina on being awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Academic Excellence at the NZQA Top Scholar Awards at Parliament today.

“The award recognises achievement at the highest overall level of academic excellence,” says Ms Parata. “Oxana’s success is something she and her school can be incredibly proud of.”

Fourteen finalists have been selected from more than 200 entries for the prestigious 2016 Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

The finalists come from Northland, Auckland, Waikato, the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Manawatu, Canterbury and Southland and include early childhood services, primary and secondary schools.

They were chosen by a panel of education experts from a total of 212 entries. 

Education Minister Hekia Parata has announced that a new education research scholarship worth $15,000 a year for up to two years is to be awarded in honour of the 28th (Māori) Battalion.

“The Education Research Masters Scholarship will be awarded by the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund to support an exciting, up-and-coming education thinker examining ways to ensure even more Māori enjoy and achieve education success as Māori,” says Ms Parata.

Another 350 schools will be able to access wireless technology, thanks to a funding increase for the Ministry of Education’s Wireless School Network Upgrade Project (WSNUP), Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“An extra $8.5 million will be spent on WSNUP, which retrofits wireless technology in schools to enable them to access the latest digital resources,” says Ms Kaye. 

Jack Matthews has been reappointed as a director of Network for Learning Ltd (N4L) for a full three-year term, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

Ms Kaye also announced the retirement of Martin Wylie, who has served on the board since 2012.

“Both Mr Matthews and Mr Wylie have provided strong leadership and guidance,” says Ms Kaye.

“Mr Wylie brought to the table considerable expertise in law, IT and telecommunications, and I’d like to acknowledge the contribution he has made over the past four years.”

Riverhead School in North-West Auckland will benefit from a $9.4 million upgrade, which will see the construction of a new two-storey classroom block and a new administration building, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

This follows last week’s announcements of a $4 million upgrade for Bayswater School on Auckland’s North Shore, and a $4.2 million upgrade for Papatoetoe Central School in South Auckland.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced that the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Board is now the official administrator of the 28th (Māori) Battalion’s name, emblem and trademark.

This role was previously the responsibility of the 28th (Māori) Battalion Association, which held a National Commemorative Ceremony in 2012 to mark its closure.

Ms Parata, who chairs the Board, says the Association saw the Board as the natural successor to protect the name and emblem of the 28th (Māori) Battalion.