The Government is providing immediate financial support to help small rural schools across Southland cope with rising fuel costs, including $37 million nationwide for boiler replacements and transport subsidies.
Education Minister Erica Stanford announced the targeted relief package yesterday, designed to help schools keep classrooms warm and ensure students can continue attending classes despite fuel price pressures.
"Global fuel price volatility is hitting some schools harder than others, particularly those that rely on diesel and where students face longer distances when travelling to and from school," Ms Stanford said.
Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds welcomed the announcement, saying help was on the way for Southland's struggling rural schools.
"The Government is rolling out immediate targeted support to these schools manage fuel cost pressures, keep classrooms warm, and ensure students remain engaged in learning," Simmonds said.
The package includes several targeted measures. A $37 million investment will accelerate the replacement of diesel boilers in up to 70 schools nationwide, providing warmer classrooms and lower long-term running costs while reducing diesel dependence by an estimated 600,000 litres annually.
To address staffing challenges in rural areas, relief teacher transport mileage rates will be temporarily increased. Car reimbursement will more than double, and motorbike rates will also rise, helping schools attract relief teachers without passing costs onto staff.
Small schools with fewer than 100 students will receive a one-off $2500 grant to help manage higher mileage costs.
"Small, rural, and isolated schools around our province often have fewer options to absorb rising transport and heating costs, and these measures recognise that reality," Simmonds said.
The minister said the Government's priority was keeping students in school and engaged in learning. She had directed the Ministry of Education to contact every school in the country to understand how fuel costs were affecting individual schools.
"Our priority is to ensure students are attending school and are engaged in their learning. Recently, I directed the Ministry of Education to contact every single school to understand the impact of fuel cost pressures on their individual circumstances so that targeted, temporary and timely responses can be designed," Ms Stanford said.
Rural and isolated schools often face higher operational costs than their urban counterparts, with heating expenses and student transport being significant budget items. Rising fuel prices have put additional strain on these communities, particularly in regions like Southland where winter heating costs can be substantial.
"I'm pleased that we have been able to do something practical to help these great little schools in the South," Simmonds said.
The interim support is being rolled out immediately while officials develop longer-term solutions for potential future fuel price increases.