Some Bay of Plenty families are struggling to accept a $15,000 scholarship to attend Whakatane based private school, Rangitaiki Independent School, because the amount does not cover accommodation costs.
Associate Minister of Education Katherine Rich announced the new private school scholarship scheme last October, with the objective of giving children from less well off families the opportunity to go to private schools.

File Picture of Rangitaiki Independent School.

Each scholarship is worth up to $15,000 a year to pay school fees at any private school.
There were 150 scholarships available across New Zealand in 2010 for Year 9, 10 and 11 students.