School learning support funding and cuts

The story so far

A report from the Aotearoa Educators' Collective said learning support in schools had reached a breaking point, citing broken funding systems, inadequate supervision and some schools' fears for children's safety.^{19 May 2025} Budget 2025 allocated $646 million for learning support for students with complex needs, to fund more specialists and bespoke classrooms, though some reports said the increase was offset by cuts to existing programmes.^{22 May 2025} Education Minister Erica Stanford announced that full-time equivalent teaching and support roles would rise by over 1,600 by 2028, and principals called the learning support boost, which one story gave as $747 million, a breakthrough despite cuts in other education areas.^{23 May 2025} In June, the Government's decision to defund 174 full-time literacy and Māori resource teaching roles led the NZEI union to consider legal action.^{14 Jun 2025} Stanford said the current system was inequitable and that 349 structured literacy roles had been funded as part of Budget 2025.^{14 Jun 2025}

Latest

The NZEI union is considering legal action over the defunding of 174 full-time literacy and Māori resource teaching roles.^{14 Jun 2025} Stanford has defended the changes, saying the current system is inequitable and that 349 structured literacy roles have been funded.^{14 Jun 2025}

What's next

The NZEI union is considering legal action, but the stories give no date for a decision.^{14 Jun 2025}

Key moments

1. 19 May 2025Report says learning support has reached breaking point, citing safety fears
2. 22 May 2025Budget 2025 allocates $646 million for learning support for complex needs
3. 23 May 2025Stanford announces over 1,600 more teaching and support roles by 2028
4. 14 Jun 2025Government defunds 174 full-time literacy and Māori resource teaching roles
5. 14 Jun 2025NZEI considers legal action; Stanford says 349 literacy roles funded

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.