Kaye Nikki: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Kaye Nikki: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 27 June 2012. Volume:681;Page:3420. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
9. 
NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: What commitments has the Government made to raising student achievement in New Zealand? 
Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education) 
: 
 We have committed to a target of 98 percent participation in quality early childhood education in 2016. This is important because participating in quality early childhood education has considerable benefits for children particularly for ensuring that they go to primary school confident able to engage and eager to learn. Evidence also shows that those who start behind tend to stay behind. To support this target we are investing $1.4 billion in early childhood education including $47.9 million more in equity funding over 4 years for priority learners and communities. This will assist participation in early childhood education by vulnerable children who are currently not receiving sufficient support to succeed in education. 
Nikki Kaye 
: What other commitments has the Government made to raising student achievement? 
Hon HEKIA PARATA 
: We have committed to ensuring that in 2017 85 percent of 18-year-olds will have National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 2 or an equivalent qualification. This will be up from 67 percent in 2010. At present one in five 15 to 16-year-olds is dropping out of school and NCEA level 2 or an equivalent qualification would give learners better employment opportunities in the long term. It is an ambitious target but this Government is determined to see more of our young people reach their employment potential when they leave school. That means lifting up those who are being left behind and encouraging those who are doing well to do even better. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: In light of that response when does the Minister intend to release a detailed action plan on her goal; and will there be specific action to lift Maori and Pacific achievement rather than further cuts to the education budget to make up for the $114 million hole left from her class size turn-round? 
Hon HEKIA PARATA 
: I am working not only with the Ministry of Education but with a forum of 30 education sector leaders from across the country on how we develop that detailed plan. Can I remind the member that this is the fourth Budget in a row that this Government has increased investment in Vote Education to a total of $9.6 billion. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I did ask when and it was a specific question about a time for the action plan to be released. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Well it is a shame that the member did not confine her question to that. I clearly remember that the last part of her question made a claim about holes in the budget and that sort of thing. If the member wants a supplementary question answered it has got to be a concise question and that had far too much in it to get the bit she wanted answered. 
Hon Nanaia Mahuta 
: I seek leave to table a document from the State Services Commission that states that a more detailed action plan will be released in coming weeks. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 









Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.