Nikki Kaye
Labour must come up with more cash if it is to go ahead with its unrealistic plan to end school donations, with data showing that over $130 million in donations was paid in 2016 – almost twice the estimated cost of Labour’s Policy.
Labour estimated that the Policy would cost $70 million, apparently based on 450,000 students being covered, with no detail as to how they estimated this uptake.
Giving schools that scrap donations an extra $150 per student will not be near enough. In 2016, the number of donations reported to Inland Revenue that were $150 and under made up just 21.5% of all donations.
Not enough money
What incentive will the Government offer to counter the 78.5% of donations over $150?
While the IRD data is only a snapshot of all donations made, because many parents are not claiming tax rebates, it is still a strong indication that the $150 promised by the Government will only incentivise a small proportion of schools.
The Government needs to work better with schools and parents to ensure that they know that they could be eligible to claim back up to a third of their voluntary school donations.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins will be under huge pressure after spending $2.8 billion on tertiary education students, leaving little money left for the rest of the education sector.
Nikki Kaye is elected Member of Parliament from Auckland Central and National Party’s Education Spokesperson. The above Report has been edited.
