9. Schools—Operational Funding for State and Private SchoolsCHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka) to the Minister of EducationSchools—Operational Funding for State and Private Schools9. CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka) to the Minister of Education: Does she agree with John Key that private schools have smaller class sizes and are better resourced than State schools; if so will she commit to smaller class sizes and better resources for State schools as part of a future education funding system?Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education): Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. I understand that Mr Hipkins is referring to a 2005 article in which the Prime Minister talked about making a choice as a parent. I fully support the right of parents to choose what they think will be best for their children's education. What I commit to as Minister is using educational resources in the most effective way possible to ensure choice for parents flexibility for schools and results for kids. That is why the funding review is exploring how the education funding system could be improved so that the right resources get to the right child at the right time in the right amount. That is also why a number of proposed directions for change are currently being discussed with an advisory group that includes representatives from the sector including the Post Primary Teachers Association and the New Zealand Educational Institute.Chris Hipkins: Why has she proposed removing the cap on private school funding and moving to a per student funding model for private schooling given that State schools are struggling to make ends meet resulting in demand for parental donations rising at 10 times the rate of inflation?Hon HEKIA PARATA: Helpfully all of the background papers are publicly available on  where the member will be able to ascertain that the proposal is for per student funding for all students across the system and what is proposed for those who are at independent schools is a predictable amount. It would be equivalent to how much the Crown would incur if those students were being fully funded in the State mainstream system.Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I did not ask the Minister to explain what the proposal was; I asked her why she was making the proposal.Mr SPEAKER: No and I felt that on this occasion the Minister addressed that question. She suggested there was a variety of reasons available on the website. The member then did add some politics to the question with his last bit suggesting that State schools were struggling. So it has been addressed. [Interruption] No it has been addressed.Chris Hipkins: Why has she proposed removing the cap on private school funding and moving to a per student funding model for private schooling?Hon HEKIA PARATA: It is a matter of equity. As I explained—[Interruption] Yes and as I explained at the end of my answer to the primary question it is because I wanted to more clearly match the amounts that would be incurred if those students were being educated in the fully funded mainstream system. It is because I want greater predictability and certainty across the education system and it is because I want to support the diversity of choice that is available to all parents and that characterises New Zealand as having a world-leading education system.Chris Hipkins: If it is a matter of equity as the Minister now claims how is increasing funding for students who attend private schools who by the Prime Minister's own admission already receive more resourcing than those in State schools and already have lower class sizes possibly going to help equity and help the achievement of students who are not doing as well in the public school system?Hon HEKIA PARATA: I am not proposing—and I want to confirm to the House that these are proposals and available for discussion—that the education system fund all of the costs. I am simply saying that the equitable approach would be to fund more closely to what it would cost the system if those students were fully educated in the publicly funded system.Chris Hipkins: Will her proposal result in an increase in funding on a per student basis for those students who are attending private schools?Hon HEKIA PARATA: Right now those children are New Zealanders who are attending a school by parental choice and they are our cheapest students in terms of calls on the taxpayer purse. It is likely—Iain Lees-Galloway: Answer the question.Hon HEKIA PARATA: —if that rude person would desist—that having set a proportion it would be greater but I do not know by how much because we are consulting. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Mr Iain Lees-Galloway cease the interjecting please; it is creating disorder. [Interruption] Order! I will not be asking you again.Chris Hipkins: Why is she considering increasing funding for private schools when 86 percent of secondary school principals are reporting that they have insufficient Government funding and are cutting field trips available subjects and curriculum resources?Hon HEKIA PARATA: Again if I could point the member and his colleagues to the actual proposals he would see that we are proposing a per student amount for every New Zealand child going to school that we are proposing an additional amount for those most at risk of not succeeding and that we are proposing an additional amount for schools that are isolated in rural areas. The proposal as a whole is: how do we give greater certainty and predictability to all school managers how do we use data to ensure that we are getting impact for that investment and how do we assure taxpayers that the over $11 billion we are putting into Vote Education is resulting in more kids being educationally successful?