23 Dec 2009

Group will suggest education funding changes

5:35 pm on 23 December 2009

MPs in a working group looking at the education system say they will present strong recommendations to the Minister of Education in the new year.

The group, comprising MPs from the National, ACT and Maori parties, was formed under a support deal between ACT and National.

Its terms of reference include looking at funding models to reduce central control and reviewing enrolment policies with regard to loosening up school zoning.

ACT MP Heather Roy says her party has always been keen on letting parents choose where to send their children, for example through a voucher system.

She says while the group will present strong recommendations, her party would have liked to have seen some of them go further.