A briefing to the incoming Minister of Education, Hekia Parata, says that easy savings that were available in the schooling system have been made, and funding constraints meant it was expected to become increasingly difficult to meet the costs arising from demographic change and capital works nationally.
"Hard decisions will need to be taken about non-essential schools in order to free up resources to maintain essential small schools and meet the need for schooling in areas of growth," the briefing said.
"Small schools are relatively expensive to maintain. Some small schools in rural areas are essential, but many small schools are in urban or semi-urban areas.
"We need to consider how the provision of schooling in areas with declining rolls can be rationalised in a way that is more cost-effective and offers better learning opportunities to students." Treasury's independent observation was that pupil achievement could be raised by improving the quality of teaching, Ms Parata said.
Increasing pupil-teacher ratios, and consolidation of the school network, could free up funding that could be used to support initiatives to enhance the quality of teaching, Ms Parata said.
"We have increased funding for education every year over the last three years, but we have to ensure that we are getting the best value for that money.
"We are considering a number of options to ensure money is being spent in the best evidence-based way to benefit the learner." Ms Parata said there were some areas of declining population throughout New Zealand with schools operating well below capacity.
"These are incredibly inefficient and money gets diverted away from the learner into property management.
"The education sector is very dynamic and schools are opened, closed and merged throughout New Zealand for a variety of reasons." The briefing has put many school principals and boards of trustees on edge.
Otago Primary Principals' Association president Brent Caldwell said it appeared the Government was keen to have a nationwide review to ensure the success of its fiscal intents.
"This would impact on our region. In the last week, we have heard the Government back larger class sizes," Mr Caldwell said.
"It is ironic that when we have a world-class education system, the Government seems intent on deconstructing it from each end.
"Our children will lose out." Mr Caldwell said he believed it was the Government's intention that larger urban areas would be increasingly resourced at the cost of smaller cities such as Dunedin.
"This will alarm many boards and their communities wanting to undertake critical capital works." It appeared the Treasury was suggesting a restructuring of school resourcing according to its fiscal formula, he said.
"The redeployment of resourcing will see schools lose out.
"This will enable the Government to justify their view on the rationalisation of schooling networks and take further steps to lower the number of schools, thereby reducing our children's education to a simple mathematical dot plot.
"This is not how we will create active, confident, lifelong learners as envisioned by the New Zealand curriculum.
"This does not make sense. Less doctors does not increase the nation's health, fewer police on the streets would not reduce crime.
"Where is the research that proves that less teachers would offer better learning opportunities for our children?"
School closures Since 2008:
July 2008: Ocean View School
April 2010: Waldronville School
April 2010:Tomahawk School
July 2010: Corstorphine School
November 2010: St Patrick's School (Dunedin)
February 2011: High Street School
December 2011: Forbury School
