Budget 2021 makes significant investment in Education, including the already announced $170 million to take important steps to pay parity for early childhood teachers not in kindergarten settings. The Budget also commits funding to implement the system reform that education Minister Chris Hipkins started last term. This includes a new Education Service Agency and a flexible fund to support schools to identify and develop local solutions to meet the needs of learners. More than $110 million will support the development of the national curriculum, including a new curriculum centre. There's funding to complete the National Certificate of Educational Achievement Change Programme and to increase the number of students receiving support from the Attendance Service to provide intensive support to those learners at risk of disengaging. An $11.6 million allocation will expand the highly successful Reading Together and Duffy Books in Homes schemes.