Teachers in Auckland have kicked off their campaign against the Government's funding scheme, at a packed town hall gathering this afternoon.
It's the first of two weeks of joint meetings of members of the NZEI and the PPTA.
They say the education funding proposal is a return to bulk funding and repercussions will include underfunding of teachers, increased class sizes and more pressure on parents to raise money for schools.
"I expect a voice to be heard and I hope that the minister listens to what we actually have to say. I think the major issue is those class sizes," one teacher said.
"It's quite a serious thing, it's not something we can just pass on," another said.
PPTA president Angela Roberts said it will facilitate privatisation of education, give schools incentives to increase class sizes and put pressure on parents to raise money for schools.
"Hopefully everyone will walk out of this meeting and have a conversation with their communities.
"Those communities will have conversations with their MPs and they will tell John Key to take this off the table."