Hipkins Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHipkins Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 01 July 2014. Volume:700;Page:19043. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka)to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by all her statements?Hon NIKKI KAYE (Associate Minister of Education)on behalf of theMinister of Education: Yes in the circumstances they were made and when they have been accurately quoted.Chris Hipkins: Does she stand by her statement that “Government is fully funding the delivery of the school curriculum.”; if so how does she explain the fact that parental donations to schools have increased to over $100 million during National’s term in office and some schools are now asking parents to donate as much as $600 per student per year?Hon NIKKI KAYE: Firstly I would just make this point: under our Government after six successive Budgets we have increased operational grants by $600 million. Donations are not compulsory. It is my advice that the amount that is given on average in terms of donations represents a couple of percentage points of the overall funding schools receive.Chris Hipkins: Why does she claim that Government funding for education is increasing when adjusted for inflation and population growth overall funding for education has fallen in four out of National’s six Budgets?Hon NIKKI KAYE: I can confirm that as I said before I do not agree with the member. We have increased the education budget for six education budgets. We have now spent $10.1 billion. That is one of the highest amounts in the OECD.Chris Hipkins: Does she stand by her statement that “My education agenda is clear and transparent and responsive.”; if so will she now categorically rule out allowing existing State schools to convert into charter schools; if not why not?Hon NIKKI KAYE: A couple of things: our agenda is incredibly transparent. It is very transparent given that we have seen incredible improvements in National Certificate of Educational Achievement level results. I can say to the member that it is not our intention to adopt that policy.Chris Hipkins: Does she stand by her statement with regard to the creation of executive principals and expert teachers: “We have had reports of support all around the country.”; if so is she reconsidering that statement in light of a recent survey of school principals that found that 54 percent of them were opposed outright to the plan 27 percent had concerns about the policy and only 4 percent were actually supportive?Hon NIKKI KAYE: I do stand by my statement. I can say to the member as I have said to the member before that we have a working group that has now formed an advisory group. We have said that we are consulting on this policy. But I can draw the member’s attention to for instance the Post Primary Teachers Association’s comments when it was incredibly supportive around this policy. Although we accept that some people around the country may have concerns ultimately we are doing this to raise achievement and also to have proper career progression for teachers. We are very confident of this policy and we are working well with the sector to implement it.Chris Hipkins: Does she agree with the statement that “Governments should have no more involvement in the education business than it has in the food business.”; if not in what particular regard does she disagree with that statement?Hon NIKKI KAYE: I am assuming that the member is referring to ACT Party leader Jamie Whyte’s comments. I would refer him this week to his colleague who has promoted I think a genetically modified midget moa to roam the streets of Rimutaka. I would ask that member to consider whether he has actually consulted with the Green Party because as is the case many different political parties across this House will have different views. From our perspective we are very confident of our policy.