The Labour candidate to doesn't pay school fees

NEW ZEALAND HERALD: A Labour stand-in education spokeswoman told an election meeting last night that she did not pay school donations and called on parents to protest against them.

Viv Goldsmith - a teacher who is standing for Labour in East Coast Bays - was filling in for Education Minister Chris Carter at a political forum in Auckland when she encouraged people to lobby Mr Carter on the issue of school donations.

The mother said in response to a question from an angry parent that she never paid them.

"We send our request for fees directly to the minister every time we get them," she said.

The meeting, organised by the Quality Public Education Coalition, erupted in cheers and laughter.

"I think more people should take the challenge like I do and let the minister know," she said.

The rest of Ms Goldsmith's answer followed a more regular political line, drawing attention to increases in schools' operations grant in past Budgets.

Mr Carter had been present at the start of the meeting but left early to attend another engagement.

The issue of school donations has been a hot topic for parents and school staff alike.

The School Trustees Association has repeatedly said schools are underfunded to an extent that funds raised in the community were spent on essentials rather than "nice to haves". In June, 15 North Shore schools - including Rangitoto College, the country's largest school, Takapuna Grammar and Northcote College - said they would not engage in the Government's Schools Plus initiative until the "dire" funding situation was recognised.

The group claimed 51 per cent of their finances e was raised from community sources, such as international students fees, community trusts, family donations and fundraising.

Mr Carter has repeatedly defended the level of funding to schools.

He has pointed out that education spending overall has almost doubled since 1999.

This year's Budget included a 5 per cent - or $171.6 million - increase over the four years for schools' operations funding.

This included $65.3 million to help meet new technology costs.

Mr Carter could not be contacted for comment later last night.