The Government’s recent announcement on targeted fuel support for small, rural and isolated schools has been welcomed in some quarters, but others have warned it does not go far enough to ease the pressure.
Education Minister Erica Stanford announced the plan to accelerate work on replacing diesel boilers from around 70 schools, as well as a temporary increase to the Relief Teacher Transport Allowance mileage rates, a one-off grant for small schools to cover mileage reimbursement and increased allowance for eligible families’ transport to their nearest bus route.
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“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.
“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.
“As a result of this engagement, we are rolling out interim support for the schools most likely to experience challenges from fuel cost-pressures, while simultaneously planning for a range of potential future scenarios.”
$37 million has been budgeted to accelerate work to replace diesel boilers at up to 70 schools around the motu to ensure they are not dependent on diesel. The upgrade is also expected to save around 600,000 litres of diesel per year.
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Ms Stanford said the Relief Teacher Transport Allowance mileage rates increase from 37 cents to 83 cents per kilometre would last 12 months, or until fuel prices ease to below $3 per litre for four consecutive weeks.
“Schools receive operational grant funding to cover mileage costs, however small schools that are predominantly rural are less likely to be able to afford the increase to the mileage reimbursement rate from their operational grant funding,” Ms Stanford said.
“In response, we are paying one-time cash grants of $2,500 to all schools with under 100 students, in addition to funding schools already receive.
“We are also increasing the conveyance allowance by 30 percent to help eligible families with the cost of getting children to school or the nearest bus route, benefiting 5,000 further students.”
Federated Farmers education spokesperson Richard Dawkins said the targeted relief was welcome news.
“The huge spike in fuel prices – particularly diesel – from the Middle East conflict has hit rural schools particularly hard.
“Students and teachers in rural areas face longer distances when travelling to and from school.
“Smaller rural schools have the same or similar fixed costs to much bigger schools but when your roll is a couple of dozen, vs 200-300-plus, dividing costs that are per-pupil based across that smaller roll is a lot tougher.”
“This is sensible, financially prudent and targeted assistance that will make a difference for rural schools.”
However, the Post Primary Teachers’ Association Te Wehengarua (PPTA)’s president Chris Abercrombie said measures to support relief teachers and the small group of students receiving transport assistance will be welcomed by those groups, but did not go far enough.
“Increasing the mileage rates for relief teachers is welcome, but what’s not welcome is the fact that secondary schools will have to pay the new rates out of their already stretched operational funding.
“This is not helpful and will simply add to schools’ financial pressures.”
“We need more certainty, planning and a bigger picture response.”
