Members of the Labour Party's skills and wages committee visited Logan Park High School during a trip to Dunedin.
Education spokesman Chris Hipkins, skills and wages spokeswoman Jenny Salesa and associate Maori education spokesman Adrian Rurawhe toured the school, taking the opportunity to speak to pupils and discuss issues with principal Jane Johnson.
The party's skills and wages committee is visiting cities and towns throughout the country at present.
Mr Hipkins said the committee was hearing the same feedback from schools throughout New Zealand.
"We are getting feedback from schools about the level of financial pressure they are finding themselves under,'' he said.
"In the last couple of years, the cost parents are having to bear for their children's education has gone up at 10 times the cost of inflation.''
During the same period, government funding had fallen by $150 per pupil, he said.
The financial pressure on families in lower socioeconomic groups to provide IT devices because of their increased use was particularly pronounced, Mr Hipkins said.
"Parents, even middle income families, are finding it tough because it all comes at the one time of the year, right after the school holidays.''
The short lifespan of technological devices and rapid transformations in technology only made things harder, he said.
The Labour MPs were heartened by what they found at Logan Park High School, especially its emphasis on drama and the arts.
"It's really good because the kids develop confidence through drama and they keep that with them throughout life,'' he said.
"We are interested in schools that are doing things differently.''
Mr Rurawhe was impressed by the school's use of kaupapa Maori.
"They are ... using that values system throughout the school. They definitely celebrate diversity, which is great.''
The committee also visited the University of Otago and met academics there.
