First results of review of targeted programmes

16 December 2004First results of review of targetedprogrammesCo-ordinating Minister, Race Rosetta Stone V3 Relations TrevorMallard today released the first reports and results fromthe governments review of targeted policies andprogrammes.The seven reports include review workundertaken by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry ofCulture and Heritage, the Ministry of Education, and theEducation Review Office. The reviews covered a varietyof programmes that varied in size and scope, from Maori artsfunding to the Population Based Funding Formula for districthealth boards. Trevor Mallard said the review processesdemonstrated the importance of clear evidence and meaningfulevaluation of policies and programmes in governmentagencies. The Labour-led government firmly believes ingiving everyone a fair go. Unlike the National party, we arecommitted to lifting Maori and Pacific Island job prospects,educational achievement and health. "We will continue touse targeted programmes and policies for specific ethnicgroups that prove effective at addressing proven needs, justas we do for other groups of New Zealanders who needspecific help, such as the elderly or those in ruralcommunities, Trevor Mallard said."These reviews haveconfirmed that for most of these programmes, targeting byethnicity is appropriate, as there is good evidence thatthis sort of targeting is addressing need effectively.Because of this these programmes will not be changed. "Anexample is the Education Review Offices collection ofinformation on Maori and Pacific student achievement inmainstream schools where this helps improve the quality ofinformation on which school programmes are based. "In tworeview areas we have asked for more research to be done, andin one area, change is required."Change required Thereview of decile funding for schools has resulted in achange to the current policy, with the ethnicity weightingto be Rosetta Stone Hindi removed from the decile funding formula.Around 900schools will be affected by this change. However,additional operational funding will be provided from 1January 2005 which will ensure that no schools will losefunding. Overall, 2461 schools (98 per cent of all schools)will gain funding. The additional funding is made up of anextra $10.5 million per school year in decile-linkedoperational funding and a further $16.5 million in per pupiloperational funding, which is equivalent to an increase of 3per cent."There is increasing evidence and research thatsuggests that lifting educational achievement for Maori andPasifika students is better done through tailored programmesthat address certain factors - such as giving teachers thesupport and the skills to teach students from differentbackgrounds who Rosetta Stone Korean have different needs," Trevor Mallard said."We are investing in these sorts of programmes already.As well, I am announcing today two new initiatives, worth$11.5 million over three years, that will support moreeffective teaching. The first will develop, pilot andestablish a national approach to training educators whoteach teachers.