The need to focus on basic skills and help teachers implement the national standards next year are the reasons behind changes to teacher professional development, the Ministry of Education says.
Education Minister Anne Tolley said the Government's baseline funding would not be cut and $22.5 million would be invested in school support services next year, but it would be prioritised.
"We want to lift student achievement in literacy and numeracy, so will be focusing teacher professional development on services which can help do this."
Professional learning and curriculum development manager Prue Kyle said schools and teachers told the ministry during a consultation they would "require considerable support" to fulfil the national standards in 2010.
Increasing professional development support for literacy and numeracy was a response to this, she said.
"A decisive focus on literacy and numeracy is necessary in the short- to medium-term to embed the national standards and address underachievement."
Not all schools were informed of the changes as only "some school support services providers have sent letters to the schools in their region".
The University of Otago communicated the changes to schools through principal reference groups, but had not yet directly communicated with all schools in the area, she said.
Websites were relied on to relay information to schools, which was how Otago Primary Principals Association president Steve Hayward learned of the cuts on Tuesday.
Ms Kyle said support for te reo Maori in English medium settings and learning languages in years 7 and 8 would continue to be offered, as would support for all of the learning areas in secondary schools.
Teachers could still receive further professional development through study awards, study leave positions, fellowships, scholarships and sabbaticals.
