4. RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) to the Minister of Education: What support does the Government provide the George Parkyn one-day school for gifted and talented at Owairaka District School, and does he consider the level of support provided equitable?

Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Education) : For the period September 2006 to June 2009, the Government will provide the George Parkyn Centre, now known as the Gifted Education Centre, with $117,596 through the contestable talent development initiative fund. The Owairaka District School is the location of one of the centre’s 17 one-day schools. The school does not receive direct funding from the centre, but the school’s deputy principal and teachers have received professional development support, as part of the contract with the Ministry of Education.

Rodney Hide: Does the Minister think it fair and equitable that the poor parents of these children not only have to pay the teachers’ salaries but also have to pay the Ministry of Education for the rent of the classroom? They have to pay twice: once through their taxes and again through their fees.

Hon CHRIS CARTER: The teaching of gifted and talented children is part of our core education business. Mostly, it is carried out in mainstream classrooms, which, of course, in the last 8 years have benefited from the extra $5 billion invested in education. There are separate programmes that parents can choose to have their gifted and talented children go on, and the Government recognises the value of them. Indeed, I have just outlined the subsidy that this particular centre receives. I know that the member visited the one-day school at the Owairaka District School yesterday. His support for the school—no doubt—and for the activities happening at that particular centre are much appreciated. I too have been visiting some of these one-day schools. Great things are happening there. But most of the education for gifted and talented children is taking place in mainstream education, which, as I said, has had an injection of an extra $5 billion in the last 8 years.

Su’a William Sio: What is the Government doing to support the education of gifted and talented children?

Hon CHRIS CARTER: I have already outlined the extent of our commitment to education overall, which, I would like to remind the House, is the third-largest in the world. Only Iceland and Denmark spend more on schools, as a percentage of GDP, than New Zealand does. That we are the third-best in the world is a pretty wonderful statement about our commitment to education. Education of gifted and talented children is taking place inside mainstream classrooms, but in recognition that we need to know more about the special needs of these particular types of students, we will spend about $1.5 million in the next year on this area. We are doing a research project, we will have a national coordination position, and we are doing professional development of teachers, which is very important. Earlier this year, I launched a new resource for parents that enables them to develop programmes at home for their children who are gifted and talented.

Rodney Hide: In the light of the Minister’s answer, is he telling the House that the value that his Government places upon the centre is just $117,000 a year, and does he not think it would be more equitable and fair for the Government to actually fund students to go to a centre of the parents’ choice, particularly when he is so convinced that the State school sector is providing what these students need?

Hon CHRIS CARTER: No. What I told the House is that this Labour-led Government is absolutely committed to resourcing education—an extra $5 billion in 8 years. The amount of our GDP that goes into education is 4.7 percent, which is the third-best percentage in the world. The member is asking me whether we value education. Yes, we do. Have we resourced it? We have resourced it extraordinarily well.