Principal associations are divided over the Ministry of Education's plans to invest $80.5 million into lifting the educational achievement of young people.
The plan was revealed yesterday when Education Minister Hekia Parata gave a glimpse of what was in store from Budget 2013 next week.
Of the $80.5 million to be invested, she said $63.6 million would go towards the Positive Behaviour for Learning suite of programmes over the next four years, and would be aimed at parents, teachers and schools, to address problem behaviour in children and young people.
At present, 408 schools are participating in the programme, and the increase in funding meant an extra 200 primary and intermediate schools would be able to access it, Ms Parata said.
''Kids behaving have a better chance of doing better throughout their education, and are better behaved at home and in their community, as well as their schools.''
The Government is also piloting two new programmes as part of the Prime Minister's Youth Mental Health initiative - Check and Connect, and My Friends Youth.
Check and Connect is a long-term mentoring programme for pupils at risk of disengaging, underachieving or dropping out early from school, and will be piloted in some secondary schools in South Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Wellington and Tai Tokerau (Northland) over the next 18 months.
The My Friends Youth programme aims to build pupils' self-esteem and resilience and help them cope with depression and anxiety.
The programme will be piloted in 10 secondary schools this year, she said.
A further $14.5 million will be invested over four years to help the New Zealand School Trustees Association strengthen its capacity and capability, so it can help boards of trustees to support their schools.
The ministry will also invest $2.4 million over four years in a new Connecting Communities initiative, which will provide information to families so they can confidently engage with their early childhood services and schools.
While Otago Secondary Principals' Association president Rick Geerlofs welcomed the news, Otago Primary Principals' Association president Whetu Cormick was sceptical.
''Until we are provided with in-depth details from the Ministry of Education, principals and schools should be guarded as to what might be sacrificed to allow these programmes to be run in only a small number of schools,'' Mr Cormick said.
Mr Geerlofs said the injection of funding into educational achievement was ''very much welcomed'', and would most certainly assist schools to cope with the many challenges they face.
''Any initiative that supports parents in engaging more in their child's education is welcomed.
''Many parents already do so, but if this will allow for the removal of some of the barriers that can get in the way, then that is very much a positive.''
The figures
• $63.6m over four years for Positive Behaviour for Learning.
• $14.5m over four years to support boards of trustees.
• $2.4m over four years for Connecting Communities to help support families to confidently engage with their early childhood services and schools.
