Parents’ Alliance backs National’s maths tutoring expansion

MEDIA RELEASE

21 October 2026

Parents’ Alliance backs National’s maths tutoring expansion

Responding to National’s announcement that a re-elected National Government would expand the Maths Acceleration Programme by a further 40,000 Year 7–10 students over the next three years, Parents’ Alliance Chair Cameron Bagrie said:

“Parents support greater investment in programmes like the Maths Acceleration Programme.”

“For twenty years maths results went backwards. Since 2003 the share of 15-year-olds struggling with maths has almost doubled, from 15 to 29 per cent, and the gap between kids from high- and low-income families has widened. This is bad for us as a country.”

“We need to keep the mandatory hour a day of reading, writing and maths. Our polling shows 74 per cent of New Zealanders support it, including 63 per cent of Labour voters.”

“The Parents’ Alliance supports this announcement. Some kids will always fall behind in maths and practical, proven programmes like this help them catch up. This will also assist with the transition to the new secondary qualification.”

“We would be interested to know whether this is additional funding or whether it will be reprioritised funding, and if so what has been dropped.”

ENDS

Media contact: Cameron Bagrie, Chair and Spokesperson, The Parents’ Alliance 027 290 9844

About the Parents' Alliance: The Parents’ Alliance Te Kotahitanga o ngā Mātua, Le Lotogatasi o Mātua, 家长联盟, पारिवारिक मंच is a national group building a collective voice for parents, grandparents and whānau in education.

More information: parentsalliance.nz