More children will be able to attend early childhood education from an earlier age because of a $74.9 million funding boost in the Budget, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.
The spending over four years is part of $686.7 million new funding announced in the Budget. It comprised $442.9 million of operating funding and $243.8 million of capital spending.
Special education received an extra $62.9 million over four years, of which $23.3 million would be used for additional teacher aide support for 1500 students which started earlier this year.
School operational grants would increase by 1%, costing $42.3 million.
It brought the amount spent on school operational grants to $1.32 billion in 2015-16.
An extra $8.2 million would be spent on vulnerable pupils over four years, benefiting almost 6000 children.
Ms Parata said the funding would help New Zealand's most vulnerable pupils to achieve more.
''Since this Government took office in 2008, the proportion of 18-year-olds achieving level 2 NCEA has risen from 68% to an estimated 81%.
''Over the past four years, the number of children participating in early childhood education has risen almost 7% to just over 58,000.''
An extra $53.3 million over four years was granted to the troubled Novopay system. Payroll performance continued to improve, Ms Parata said.
Education
Secondary/primary/early childhood
• Sector funding hits $10.8 billion
• $8.2 million for vulnerable students
• $62.9 million for special needs pupils
• 1% increase for school operational grants
• $373.9 million for school infrastructure
