South Auckland schools ’knocked again’ as they lose funding

SCHOOLS in one south Auckland suburb are ‘‘baffled’’ after losing funding under a new government model.

Across 158 south Auckland schools, 12 lost funding in the switch from deciles to the equity index (EQI). At least eight of those schools were in Papatoetoe, according to Mark Elder, the head of the Papatoetoe Principals’ Association.

‘‘We’re all a little baffled, a little confused,’’ Elder said.

‘‘We want to know more about how we got our equity numbers, but we’ve not been able to get answers. It’s frustrating.’’

From 2024, Puhinui School in

Papatoetoe is set to gradually lose $95,000 in equity index funding.

‘‘Its early days yet, but I’ve got questions I want to ask to find out how this is addressing the equity for our area,’’ Elder said.

He hoped the funding drop was a result of teething problems.

‘‘We want the ministry to review and make shifts and adjustments to the EQI, so it does what it was intended to do, which is to be more of a sharper tool than the decile system.’’

Starting in 2023, the government is scrapping the decile system and replacing it with the new equity index.

The EQI is based on 37 socioeconomic factors – ranging from parent education levels and benefit history, through to Oranga Tamariki notifications and student transience – to calculate an index number between 344 and 569 for each school.

Papatoetoe North principal

Stan Tiatia would be also be losing $60,000 from his budget. He said it stung after Covid-19 put many of his families into ‘‘survival mode’’.

‘‘This community just gets knocked and knocked and knocked again. Then we come to [the] equity index which is something that is supposed to address equity and they’ve taken that funding away from us,’’ he said.

Seventy per cent of Tiatia’s students are Mā ori and Pasifika and 20% are Asian. Just 1% are Pā kehā . ‘‘Taking this money away from us is directly impacting students,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s not our property money. It’s not our admin. It’s money that we use for teacher aides and for extra support to students who need it.’’

Caroline Chawke, the principal of Papatoetoe South School, said she was shocked by the new funding allocation.

‘‘I’m feeling frustrated. I’m disappointed that we’re going to have to collectively fight for the needs of our tamariki,’’ she said.

The school is down $20,000 in equity funding and a further $200,000 in teacher funding.

Ministry of Education spokesperson Sean Teddy said the funding was a reflection of Auckland’s changing and diverse community.

‘‘We have been working with schools and kura in this area to provide support and information where needed.’’