Today, in my capacity as Associate Minister of Education, I was delighted to announce the introduction of new scholarships that will enable young people from low-income families to attend independent schools that their families otherwise wouldn't be able to afford.

In this year's Budget the Government allocated an additional $10 million a year to independent schools – the first increase they have seen since 2000. Of that $10 million, $2.6 million will be used to provide students from low-income families with a scholarship – as well as an allowance to cover uniform and other school-related costs – to attend an independent school.

At the moment, over four percent of school-age students – around 30,000 children – attend independent schools. This represents a saving to the State of around $200,000 annually, and relieves some of the pressure on State schools. Under the new scholarship programme, 150 students from low-income families will be able to attend an independent secondary school. More details of the scholarships will be announced soon.

This initiative is a major achievement for ACT, which – along with National – pledged to increase families’ education choices, and for whom a scholarship for every child is a key policy. Parents are best placed to make the decisions about the education that best suits their children’s needs. This funding will support parents in their choices and improve access for many families to a greater range of educational opportunities for their children.

My announcement of the scholarships and frequently asked questions can be found at: www.roy.org.nz/education.