1,877 schools in donation scheme at $166 a student
1,877 schools are in the government's school donation scheme this year, receiving $166 for each student instead of asking families for donations.
The payments total $86 million, according to RNZ. Schools in the scheme receive extra government funding for each student and agree not to seek donations from parents and caregivers, apart from charges for overnight camps.
Membership is 292 schools, or 18 percent, higher than when the scheme began in 2020 for schools in then-deciles 1-7. The scheme is open to state and state-integrated schools and kura.
Eligibility is based on a school's Equity Index number, or EQI. Schools with an EQI of 432 or higher can join.
About one in 10 schools in the scheme this year are remaining in it under a grandparenting clause. The clause lets a school stay on even if its EQI falls below 432 after it has joined. A school that leaves cannot re-enter unless its EQI moves back to 432 or higher.
The Education Ministry said the arrangement avoids schools see-sawing in and out because of year-to-year changes in EQI. It said it provides certainty and stability in funding.
Berhampore School in Wellington is one of the schools staying on under the clause after its EQI number dropped below the cut-off. Principal Mark Potter attributed the drop to the closure of 90 to 120 Kāinga Ora homes and the departure of many poorer families. Halsey Drive School in Auckland is also remaining in the scheme under the clause.
Havelock North Intermediate sat just below the cut-off for several years. It became eligible two years ago and has since joined the scheme.
