$3m school donations divide
League table shows gulf in funding for pupils. By Torika Tokalau, Mahvash Ali and Matt Tso.
New Zealand’s richest primary school in terms of donations is considering taking up a Government offer to ditch the practice.
Island Bay School’s 460 students contributed $490,000 donations in 2016, according to the Ministry of Education – an average of $1065.46 per student for the year’s schooling.
But the Government has promised an extra $150 per student to any schools that agree not to ask for donations and Island Bay principal Deborah Fenton says she’s considering the offer.
Island Bay School mother Schamet Horsfield thought school donations were great. ‘‘I think it’s actually a good thing to have that cushion for supplies and activities. It goes further to creating a better education for our kids,’’ she said.
At the other end of the scale, Kaipara’s Kaihu Valley School, where principal Sonia Simion is determined to offer a free education to its nine students, collected just $26 in donations in 2016 – one of the lowest amounts in the country.
‘‘People can’t afford donations, there is no point in asking,’’ Simion said. ‘‘We can charge it but we would never get it.’’
She welcomed the potential new policy.
‘‘When you have a small school, the funds are limited and that extra money will go a long way in providing children with resources.’’
Auckland Grammar topped the donations table with $2.9 million, with Hutt International Boys’ School second-highest with $2m – that’s $1850 a term per child.
HIBS principal Mike Hutchins said the Government policy – due to be considered in this year’s Budget – would not work for them.
‘‘We congratulate the government on it, but for us it would be unlikely. It’s in a different sort of league. For us, the proposed amount wouldn’t cover extra staff and extra-curricular activities.’’
At Balmoral School in Auckland where a $415 donation per student created a pool of more than $380,000 in 2016, principal Malcolm Milner said he appreciated parental support. ‘‘If we had to go for that Government policy, we would have to cut what we offer. It would be a tough decision, but if it is what the community wants of course we will go with it.’’
Logan Park High School, with a roll of 620 students, received $150 in donations in 2016, but under any potential Government scheme, would receive a $93,000 funding boost.
‘‘We want education to be as free as possible. We have an optional donation,’’ principal Peter Hills said. ‘‘It is a donation. Not an
expectation, not an invoice.’’
Glenavon School in Blockhouse Bay, Auckland, dropped school donations this year.
Principal Phil Toomer said the school would pay for all school trips, events and sports activities through
‘‘Some say that we are taking away parents’ responsibility to contribute, but we don’t believe that’s true at all. We still expect parents to pay for uniform, stationary and a nutritious lunch for their children.’’
Voluntary donation figures also included money from businesses, community groups, alumni and parents. On average, they made up 1.8 per cent of school revenue.
Ministry of Education acting deputy secretary sector enablement Susan Howan said no parent should feel pressured into paying school donations.
‘‘Requests for voluntary donations to deliver trips or activities that are part of the curriculum are not legally enforceable.’’
Education Minister Chris Hipkins said the $150-per-student policy to ditch donations was intended because, ‘‘No-one should be denied an opportunity to realise their potential through education because of financial barriers.’’