12. Question No. 12—Education (School Operations)CAMILLA BELICH (Labour) to the Associate Minister of Education (School Operations)Question No. 12—Education (School Operations)12. CAMILLA BELICH (Labour) to the Associate Minister of Education (School Operations): What support has been allocated specifically to Auckland schools to help re-engage students in education?Hon JAN TINETTI (Associate Minister of Education (School Operations)): The Government has provided a targeted $15 million package to help re-engage Auckland students in their education following long periods of the distance learning that has been necessary to keep kids safe from COVID-19. Our teachers have done an incredible job at delivering education online for our students especially in Auckland. Online learning has been necessary and has meant many students are able to continue their education while staying safe from COVID-19. But it has its challenges. This $15 million package includes a mix of community-based and targeted support and covers targeted support for Māori and Pacific students a rapid resurgence fund deployment of the TK400 programme additional funding for learning support additional counselling services scaling up of the Check and Connect programme and additional funding for the Attendance Service. This funding is already hitting the ground and I know it is making a difference.Camilla Belich: Why was this package of initiatives chosen as the best approach to re-engaging young people?Hon JAN TINETTI: This $15 million package is made up of carefully selected proven and effective interventions to help re-engage students. This was based off both previous experience from the last COVID-19 nationwide lockdown evaluations undertaken by educational research bodies and in consultation with educational practitioners on the ground. For example the highly successful TK400 NCEA secondary school programme is designed for students from deprived communities that have either disengaged or dropped out of school. The programme was used following the last nationwide lockdown and uses a mix of online and face-to-face teaching formats suited for at-risk students. The last cohort saw 96 percent of students finishing with a transition plan to continue their education or move into employment. This programme combined with other targeted educational and mental health initiatives from this Government will support a safe and effective return to in-class learning.Camilla Belich: What impact will this funding have for Auckland schools and students?Hon JAN TINETTI: This funding will help those students who are finding it tough to stay engaged with their learning through the remainder of term 4 and it will also support them over summer so that they do return to their education next year. This $15 million will help both our older students who have returned to school and heading into exams as well as younger students who get back to face-to-face learning from 17 November. Our more vulnerable students in deciles 1 to 4 schools are our biggest priority as they are the most at risk. These young people often face compounding challenges and need to be connected with a local community leader who they can trust. This is why we have distributed the funding in a way that uses a combination of funding to schools and to community providers on a needs basis as they know their kids and their communities best.