The Ministry of Education is under strict instructions to identify $25 million dollars worth of savings by 2013.

Education Minister Anne Tolley says it is part of a process which began in May last year. She says the Government has asked the ministry to focus more on frontline regional support for schools and ECE service with less national bureaucracy.

Ms Tolley expects the efficiency drive will lead to staff being bolstered in areas of high priority, while there will be staff reductions in areas of low priority.