While giving nothing away on education spending in the forthcoming Budget, he highlighted underachieving Maori and Polynesian students, and also assistance for underperforming teachers.
Mr Makhlouf, the former principal private secretary to British Labour Party politician Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer, said getting out of Wellington and Auckland to visit regional areas ''is an ongoing focus ... to get a better sense of what are the frontline issues''.
On Wednesday in Dunedin, Mr Makhlouf (53) met early childhood teachers, a group of secondary school principals, the university's dean of education, trainee teachers and the university's vice-chancellor, Prof Harlene Hayne. He met members of Dunedin's business community at Upstart Business Incubator and the university's Centre for Innovation on Thursday.
Feedback Mr Makhlouf received from education participants focused on recognition for the teaching profession.
''There is importance of equality in teaching. We have a very good education system, which rates well in international scores, but has a long underachievement in Maori and Pacific [Islanders] compared to Pakeha. That's where we want to lift achievement,'' Mr Makhlouf said.
While feedback was in favour of more recognition for teaching as a profession, there was also a call for more help for ''poor teachers ... who should be helped, or moved out'' of the profession.
Mr Makhlouf would not be drawn on Treasury recommendations to ministers concerning the Budget, which will be presented next month, noting only the more than $12 billion spent annually by the Government on education was more than 20% of its budget and that the figure had doubled in the past decade.
''A focus on education is one of the most important for New Zealand. Treasury's job is to lift New Zealanders' living standard,'' Mr Makhlouf said.
