The number of ESOL funded students continues to increase

State schools can apply for funding, to employ specialist teachers or buy resources, for students living in New Zealand, whose first language is not English.

Migrants are funded for up to five years, while those with refugee parents are covered for three.

Just over 87-thousand students are currently funded in almost 18-hundred schools - 4.7 percent more than the second half of last year.

Schools get one thousand dollars for secondary students each year - primary and intermediate students receive 780.