Donnelly Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Donnelly Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:607;Page:4414] 
8.  
Hon BRIAN DONNELLY (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: What are the implications of the increase in foreign fee-paying students at primary and secondary schools? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister of Education) 
: 
 The key implications are the pressures on school property to accommodate increased student numbers; on staffing which is relatively serious at the secondary school level; and on the requirement to ensure appropriate pastoral care for students. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: To what extent does the increase of over 300 percent from 4537 in 1999 to 15259 in 2002 in foreign fee-paying students in schools over the past 4 years account for the teacher shortages lack of resourcing and overcrowding in New Zealand schools? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: It should not cause overcrowding in that separate buildings have to be provided if buildings are not otherwise available. I understand that last year 800-odd secondary teachers were required to teach these young people. That is putting pressure on staffing availability and is one of the reasons the Government is looking at the possibility of capping numbers. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Why does this Government not trust parents’ elected boards to make the decision about whether they have foreign fee-paying students at their schools and if they do decide to have them how many they wish to have; and why does the Minister believe he has a monopoly on wisdom rather than allowing the 2600 boards of trustees to make this decision for their communities? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: If the member read the paper especially in relation to Auckland in recent times I think he would understand why it is important that the Government take a more active interest in this area. But on this question schools have responsibility for their own staffing. I have a responsibility for the overall staffing of the system and that is what I am carrying out. 
Deborah Coddington 
: Does he agree with the reaction of Fraser High School’s principal Martin Elliott to the Government’s proposal to limit overseas fee-paying students when he said he was “used to some stupid things coming out of Wellington but this tops it off”; if not is he just buckling to pressure from his helpful friends in the teacher unions? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I think I would like to have the last part of that question and give it to my Labour electorate committee and a number of my friends in the teacher unions. 
Metiria Turei 
: Given that the prevalence of foreign fee-paying students is now a demonstrable commercial and competitive business within the public education system how can the Minister possibly assure New Zealanders that the public education system is protected from the General Agreement on Trade in Services when public services are exempt from that agreement only when they are not provided on a commercial basis? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Easily. 
Jill Pettis 
: Can the Minister please advise what progress has been made in the Columbus Academy investigation? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: At least 10 Government agencies are now involved in the investigation. I am advised that an understanding has been reached with the Columbus Academy legal representatives that all the children and young people resident at the academy will leave New Zealand in the near future.