9. Schools—Operational FundingCHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka) to the Minister of EducationSchools—Operational Funding9. CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka) to the Minister of Education: Is she satisfied that schools are receiving adequate funding to fully deliver the curriculum and offer New Zealand children the free education that the Education Act 1989 promises?Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education): Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. I am satisfied that we are providing more funding for education than ever before. Under this Government we have increased Vote Education by 35 percent to over $11 billion including more than $1.35 billion for schools' operational grants. Whether this funding is used effectively to ensure all children can progress in their learning along the curriculum is one of the key questions of the funding review.Chris Hipkins: Why did she claim that her modelling suggests that more than two-thirds of schools will receive increases that are greater than the inflation rate …" next year when the actual numbers show that just 12 percent are set to receive an increase greater than the rate of inflation and the rest are set to be worse off?Hon HEKIA PARATA: I am not sure where the member is asserting I made that claim. What I have said is that over 96 percent of schools would receive some of this funding depending on the distribution of those young people who come from long-term welfare-dependent homes.Chris Hipkins: Did she say in her press statement on 27 May: "The same modelling suggests that more than two-thirds of schools will receive increases that are greater than the inflation rate"; if so why did she make that claim when the actual data shows that fewer than 12 percent of schools will receive an increase greater than the rate of inflation?Hon HEKIA PARATA: It would appear that I did make that statement since the member is quoting from a press release. I think I also said at the time that the actual impact would rely on the July return of rolls and then we would know for certain what the distribution would be.Chris Hipkins: So is it not true that the actual numbers after adjusting for inflation show that 1894 schools will be worse off and will lose funding in 2017 while only 299 schools will be better off?Hon HEKIA PARATA: No and that reflects the member's misunderstanding of how we fund into schools—Tracey Martin: Ha ha!Hon HEKIA PARATA: —and that member's also apparently—which is $1.35 billion. The $12.3 million that is being distributed in addition amounts to the 1 percent but the overall total is $1.35 billion being distributed across schools. It is driven by the size of the roll and by the 23 elements that are in the operational grant and that is why it differs each year between schools.Chris Hipkins: Does an analysis school by school using the same formula that she has used in her post-Budget publicity in every other year except for this year show that nearly 2000 schools end up worse off while only about 300 schools end up better off? Hon HEKIA PARATA: No.Chris Hipkins: How can she claim that the education sector is being adequately funded when a recent report from the OECD shows that New Zealand lags behind the OECD for per-student funding on average and why will she not just admit that the National Government's strategy for funding schools is to push more and more of the cost on to parents?Mr SPEAKER: Either of those supplementary questions.Hon HEKIA PARATA: I am not claiming; I am basing it on evidence. What we know is first of all that the methodology that the OECD used for that report does not make consistent comparisons. It does not use the childcare subsidy in New Zealand which is part of the support we provide for families whereas it does for every other country. Secondly its comparison is based on two children in every family doing 40 hours per week whereas in New Zealand it is based on individual children regardless of how many a family has and it is based on 20 hours. So the comparison does not stand up under scrutiny. Sorry what was the other question that the member asked? I am happy to answer that too. For every $1.80 that parents provide to support fund-raising for their school taxpayers provide $100. For every dollar that parents pay for early childhood education the Government pays $4.80. I think it demonstrates that this National Government—Chris Hipkins: Parents are taxpayers too.Hon HEKIA PARATA: Parents are taxpayers and that is the very point that I am making.Mr SPEAKER: Bring the answer to a conclusion.Hon HEKIA PARATA: Well Mr Speaker the member is making assertions that are not supported by fact."