The Education Ministry boosted education spending during the last financial year, but not all the extra money was needed, its annual report shows.
The report shows the government increased its original budget for primary schools by $14 million in the 2014 to 2015 year.
But in the end, $51m went unspent due to lower-than-expected enrolments and delays to the start of a scheme that pays some teachers and principals extra to lead improvements in groups of schools.
Though the budget for early childhood education was increased by $25m, increases in home-based care and in the number of hours of early education in December and January required a further $16m.
