Most or all schools in Kaikoura, Marlborough and the West Coast have now joined the Government's flagship education scheme.
Photo: 123rf
The Government today announced 129 schools that have formed 18 clusters for the Investing in Educational Success programme.
Each group of schools will get extra pay for one of their principals and some of their teachers, and will work together on common goals.
The clusters announced today included five in Auckland, four in Rotorua, and six in the South Island.
Education Minister Hekia Parata said the 18 new clusters of schools were likely to focus on issues including truancy and literacy.
She said she expected others would look at the conditions that underpin good learning.
"In other words looking at consistency of attendance, improving the punctuality of attendance because those factors can have a significant effect on, not only the quality of learning, but also the consistency of learning."
The union for primary school staff, the Educational Institute, opposed the scheme and is negotiating an alternative with the Education Ministry.
Ms Parata said primary schools would feel more comfortable joining the Government's flagship education policy if they had their union's backing.