The primary and secondary education of a child born in New Zealand today is expected to cost parents up to $326,773, a new study has found.
The ASG Education Programs New Zealand "planning-for-education index'' released today, has forecasted the cost of 13 years of education to be $37,114 at a state school, $104,437 at a state-integrated school and up to $326,773 at a private school.
The index is based on a survey of about 2000 families, which measured school fees, transport, uniforms, computers, school excursions and sporting trips to determine the cost of education.
ASG (Australian Scholarships Group) is a member-based organisation that helps families plan for their children's education.
Statistics recently published by the Herald on Sunday also reveal New Zealand school donations and fundraising went up $1.2million from 2013 to 2014, reaching $161.6million - about $8.4million more than in 2010.
Voluntary donations are expected to top the $1billion mark when the 2016 school year begins early next month.
Suzanne Watt, a Mosgiel mother of three primary school children, was shocked by the statistics, and was concerned about how the increased costs would impact on the finances of New Zealand families.
She said school fees were increasing faster than incomes, which was having an effect on education affordability.
Independent statistician and Foreseechange managing director Charlie Nelson, of Melbourne, agreed.
He said the average income in New Zealand was increasing 3.1% annually, which was considerably less than the rising cost of education.
The independently collated and verified ASG survey showed the cost of primary and secondary education in New Zealand was estimated to increase 8% (state), 16% (state-integrated) and 21% (private) over the next five years.
Mrs Watt said it would certainly have an impact on her family's finances, but she was determined it would not affect the quality of her children's education.
"I want my kids to have a good and full education. It will cost what it will cost - I'll find a way to pay for it.''
She had started saving for her children's education when they were born, but the uncertainty of what it would eventually cost was concerning.
"I don't even know what secondary school my kids are going to go to at this stage, so I don't know what to expect at that level.
"I know that technology is changing. For us, it's the uncertainty of what it might cost when the kids get to high school.''
Labour education spokesman Chris Hipkins has called New Zealand's free education "a joke''; and the Quality Public Education Coalition says if schools are taking in more than $1billion in voluntary donations, it is time for a major policy change in the funding of schools.
Otago Secondary Principals' Association secretary Gordon Wilson said schools struggled to provide what society expected from a 21st-century education system, given the amount of funding provided by the Government.
However, Education Minister Hekia Parata said parents contributed just $1.80 for every $100 spent by the taxpayer on education.
The Government was set to invest $10.8billion in early childhood, primary and secondary education, more than the combined budget for police, defence, roads and foreign affairs.
She said the education funding system was under a far-reaching review that was examining all types of funding, including grants, staffing and property.
But she also believed it was important the system allowed parents who were willing and able to provide extra funding so their children could receive "extras'' in their education.
At the same time the country's poorest schools were still getting more from decile-related funding than high-decile schools received from donations and fundraising.
ASG chief executive officer John Velegrinis, of Melbourne, said there was "clear evidence'' the increasing costs of education were putting a strain on family budgets across the country.
"If you have two or three children, the cost of their education could be higher than the purchase price of the family home.
"It is now more important than ever for parents to plan for their child's future.
"Regardless of whether you send your children to a state, state-integrated or private school, the costs of that education will clearly increase.
"We advocate parents use a disciplined approach by putting a little bit away each week so they financially can afford their children's educational goals and aspirations.''
