'Cuts will not hurt schools'

A $25 million budget cut at the Education Ministry will not hurt schools, Prime Minister John Key says.

Education Minister Anne Tolley this week announced a $25m cut to the Education Ministry's $441m operating budget and changes to its role, size and focus.

Critics feared the move would place a greater burden on schools.

In Christchurch yesterday, Key said schools often complained about the high level of bureaucracy in Wellington, and the restructuring would reduce that bureaucracy.

The cuts would be in education administration and the aim was to move resources from the back office to the front office, he said.

Key was not sure how many jobs would be lost, but he was not anticipating wholesale layoffs. He expected natural attrition would take care of some jobs.

"There may be some people's jobs who are no longer required," he said.

Tolley said the ministry would consider how it could deliver the best and most cost-efficient resources.

- © Fairfax NZ News