Labour updates stance on PPP schools after criticism

The Labour Party is facing criticism over its claims about public-private partnership (PPP) schools. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has accused Labour of using “false facts” to suggest that these schools do not allow children's artwork on the walls and have high costs for light bulbs. The Ministry of Education has confirmed that there is no ban on hanging artwork in PPP schools. Additionally, the costs for changing light bulbs are covered by maintenance contracts and are not extra charges for the schools. Labour's Barbara Edmonds argues that while maintenance can be more complicated in PPP schools, it allows schools to focus on teaching because private providers handle these tasks. Some schools have acknowledged that maintenance might be more cumbersome compared to fully public schools. This issue became prominent after Labour attended the Government's investment summit in Auckland, where they aimed to show bipartisan support. The back-and-forth highlights ongoing tensions between Labour and the government regarding public-private school partnerships.