Public funding for primary and secondary education

Public funding for primary and secondary education is expected to total $10.04 billion in 2024-25, representing a leap of 3.3% on the previous year. The government has committed to a substantial investment of $2.93 billion over a four-year period to enhance academic outcomes. This investment anticipates a rise in overall funding for schools and early childhood education in the upcoming year, focusing on key areas like improving educational facilities, bolstering teacher recruitment and retention efforts and enhancing student wellbeing with the Healthy School Lunches Programme.

The additional funding targets critical areas within the education sector. Plans include building new classrooms, providing teachers more support and strengthening early childhood education services. There's also a focus on upgrading digital infrastructure in schools and rolling out structured literacy programs across state primary institutions. These initiatives are designed to elevate educational standards, upgrade school facilities and offer improved support to students and educators throughout New Zealand. The government's commitment to education is further demonstrated by additional funding for programs like English for Speakers of Other Languages support, the School High Health Needs Fund and the ongoing delivery of the Ikura Period products in school's programme. These targeted investments reflect a comprehensive approach to addressing diverse needs within the education system.

School is compulsory for ages six to 16. In 2024, about 850,999 students were enrolled in primary, secondary, composite and special schools. The Ministry of Education (Te Tahuhu o te Matauranga) allocates annual operational funding based on components like base costs, per-pupil funding and capital works needs. Population growth has increased student numbers, driving higher public funding for education over the past five years. The compulsory nature of schooling ensures steady, long-term growth in pupil numbers and funding. Overall, IBISWorld forecasts public funding for primary and secondary education to increase at a compound annual rate of 7.1% over the five years through 2024-25.