May 26, 2015
Count Me In counted a success
Education Minister Hekia Parata is hailing the new Count Me In programme as an example of the way the Budget targets those who need help most.
She says as well as extra money for special needs places and teacher aides, the government is looking at what can be done for 16 and 17 year olds who have left school but are not in employment or training.
She says Education is working with other government agencies to identify the 2000 or so youth who would most benefit from reconnecting with education through Count Me In.
New Zealand First Maori affairs spokesperson Pita Paraone says Count Me In, which will get $1 million a year, comes at the cost of $1 million taken from a programme to increase iwi involvement in education and another $1 million from the Engaging Priority Families programme.
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