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The Government has announced funding to support high priority areas of the Education Review Office’s work, which includes working with schools of concern and investing in more robust regulatory oversight for hostels and private schools.
The Education Review Office (ERO) has received funding in areas that align with the Government’s priorities in lifting education achievement.
The funding announced in Budget 2026 supports the following initiatives:
Schools of Concern – Addressing Achievement, Attendance, and Child Safety
An investment of $3m per annum provides funding to establish a Schools of Concern Programme for more targeted specialist work in underperforming schools.
Schools of Concern disproportionately contribute to poor achievement and attendance rates. Currently 9% of schools are considered to be of concern. They will be supported with bespoke, independent and more frequent reviews to ensure quick identification of issues and high-quality, actionable recommendations to address key problems and improve school and student outcomes.
This will support stronger action on Government priorities relating to achievement and attendance and will maximise the benefit of the Government’s investment in proposed legislative change that requires the Ministry of Education to act in response to an Education Review Office (ERO) recommendation.
Hostels and Private Schools – Increasing Child Safety
An investment of $2m per annum will enable more robust regulatory oversight for hostels and private schools. This initiative responds to recommendations made by the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in State Care.
The funding would also allow investment in specialist capability supported by technology and data analytics to provide a risk-based and responsive regulatory service to mitigate child safety risk in these education settings.
This work is supported by regulatory functions related to private schools and hostels proposed to be transferred from the Ministry to ERO. The Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill 2025 aims to strengthen the performance and coherence of the education system by clarifying roles and responsibilities across key agencies and functions.
The Minister of Finance, Hon Nicola Willis, delivered Budget 2026 on 28 May 2026: Budget 2026 | The Treasury New Zealand.
