Parents of Bay of Plenty students can breath easier after the Government today announced that it will back down from its plans to increase class sizes.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says the backflip is due to overwhelming concern from parents.

'We are firmly focused on raising student achievement and getting five out of five of our kids succeeding and we continue to believe that investing in quality teaching and professional leadership is the best way to do this.

'We had thought that some modest changes to teacher:student funding ratios in Budget 2012 would help us fund this investment but over the past week, it has become apparent that these minor adjustments have caused a disproportionate amount of anxiety for parents, and that was never our intention.”

She says the choice to reverse the decision was discussed with Prime Minister John Key and other senior minsters this morning.

The Government's original plan would have seen $60 million go into boosting teacher recruitment and training, which would have freed up more than $174 million over four years.

The Government will no longer be able to make this investment, leaving a net shortfall of $114 million over the four-year Budget forecast period.

The shortfall is made up of $15 million in 2013/14 rising to about $50 million in subsequent years. There is no cost for 2012/13.

'The remainder of the savings will be achieved through a combination of a pre-commitment against Budget 2013 and other savings we will work to find within Vote Education,” says Hekia.

'The Government will take its time to work through those decisions in a balanced and considered way.”

She says today's changes will not affect the Government's plans to reach a surplus by 2014/15.

As announced in Budget 2012, the Government is investing an extra $511.9 million in education over the next four years.

This takes the Government's total investment in early childhood education and schooling to $9.6 billion for 2012/13.

'We remain committed to raising achievement and ensuring all our young people have the knowledge, skills and values to be successful in the 21st century.

'We will work with the sector to address quality issues and lift student achievement. I am meeting with a number of sector organisations over the coming weeks.”