Education has been named one of the big winners in the Budget with $11 billion being injected into the sector, but local principals are disappointed with no increase in schools' operational funding.
Rotorua Principals' Association president and Ngakuru School principal Grant Henderson said, from a financial point of view, education was a winner, but to be real winners it would come down to how that investment was spent.
"The $43 million for schools to target the most at-risk students is good, but only if it goes straight to the kids. I am worried we will see that money go to the adults facilitating, organising and creating criteria for the programmes designed to help the children."
Mr Henderson said while it was great to see $11 billion injected into the sector, it was concerning none of that went was to increase the funding that covers the cost of running a school.
"It means we are going to have to go out and source secondary funding to keep our schools running, we are going to have to keep asking for donations from our parents and looking for other ways to bridge that gap between the funding we get and the education our Government expects us to provide."