Opinion: Education Investment Will Benefit The South

I’ve been involved in education for many decades, and I am passionate about its impact.

I believe that the results we get from our education system is the single most important thing that we can do to improve the future economic prosperity of our province. Related: New Budget to Shift Fees Free to Final Year for Better Outcomes

The coalition Government is boosting education spending by $2.93 billion over the next four years to improve student outcomes.

This includes extra funding for more teachers, teacher support, more classrooms, funding for structured literacy, the school lunches programme, a targeted early childhood food programme, digital services in schools and sustainable funding to Playcentre.

Education has the power to change lives. I want every child in Southland to have the opportunity to gain the skills and qualifications they need to achieve their potential.

Last week’s budget was also about creating a pathway for a sustainable tertiary education sector which supports and incentivises hard working learners, businesses, and tertiary education providers.

As the Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, I want to reward conscientious students, support new apprentices and employers, bolster tertiary providers, and keep student loan borrowers accountable to taxpayers.

Labour’s first year Fees Free policy was an expensive failure, which saw fewer full-time equivalent students in tertiary education in 2023, than there were in 2017.

We’re changing the scheme from the “first,” to the “last” year of study, which I believe is a much better way to incentivise students to complete their degrees.

This change will save taxpayers a whopping $877 million, over four years, and will help deliver better education outcomes.

We’ve also recognised the vital role of on-the-job training, by ensuring there’s funding in place for the Apprenticeship Boost Scheme.

This is positive for regional economies like Southland’s and will support a range of employers to take on new apprentices.

The Master Plumbers Association has already come out and applauded this decision, and Southland employers have told me that it’s a positive step that will boost training and apprenticeship numbers in this province.

I’m pleased to be in a position to do things that support education and training across the country and that will have real benefits for young people and employers in the South.

Published by arrangement. Funded by Parliamentary Services.