How Will the Budget Affect You?
As promised, this Budget 2025 Special provides a comprehensive summary table, compiled by NZPF, of education-related announcements.
Highlights include substantial funding for learning support at all levels, 25 new satellite learning support classrooms, funding of ORS students on a demand driven basis, a boost to teacher aide hours, an increase in specialist support, and a substantial increase in the number of Learning Support Coordinators.
While this funding still falls short of meeting all learning support needs, it will have a hugely positive impact across the motu. We have asked that this funding increase not be limited to this Budget but be continued to meet demand.
There will be challenges filling all the new roles, especially achieving the increased level of teacher aides. The discontinuation of pay equity will inevitably have an impact for them. We are however committed to discussing ideas with the Minister about how to attract people to all the roles proposed.
We are also delighted to see an increase in Leadership Advisors to double the number available now. Again, we could use more but this is another positive step in the right direction. Further we are pleased with the focus on PLD for aspiring principals, and hope that in time that too will grow to cover all principals.
We acknowledge that these changes have meant losing some valued services including RT Lit and RT Māori and Kahui Ako. Many principals have gained benefit from these initiatives, and we hope that the gap they leave will be filled, in time, with alternative measures.
We have included a quick survey on the Budget announcements. Please take the time to complete the survey to better inform our future advocacy work on your behalf. We greatly value your feedback.
CLICK HERE FOR BUDGET 2025 SURVEY
Ngā manaakitanga,
NZPF President
