New Zealand's relatively low wealth is being blamed for international statistics showing New Zealand's education spending among the lowest in the developed world.Figures prepared by the Education Ministry compare education spending in 28 Organisation for
New Zealand's relatively low wealth is being blamed for international statistics showing New Zealand's education spending among the lowest in the developed world.
Figures prepared by the Education Ministry compare education spending in 28 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.
New Zealand rates 21st for spending per primary pupil, at $6939, and 23rd for secondary, at $8470, the Dominion Post reported.
OECD averages are $9021 for primary pupils and $11,221 for secondary.
"It's because we're quite poor compared to other OECD countries," Education Minister Anne Tolley told the newspaper.
"It's a direct reflection of where we are. We're down the bottom, because that's where our wealth is."
Education has been flagged as a big winner of next week's Budget.
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