Schools funding: Parents warned they face fee hikes unless Government develops strategy
Updated
Parents of children at Catholic and independent schools have been warned they face fee hikes unless the Government develops a coherent strategy on schools funding.
Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham has again delayed discussions with the states on the future of schools funding, and NSW has today warned the Federal Government is "getting very, very close to midnight" on negotiating funding packages beyond 2018.
The National Catholic Education Commission, which speaks for hundreds of cash-strapped schools, has warned of potential fee increases that could hit struggling families as principals attempt to plan their resourcing for next year.
"[Principals] are anxious at this point about how much funding they will have," acting executive director Danielle Cronin said.
"They're anxious that if government funding does not keep pace with growing school costs, families will face additional pressures to make up the shortfall in funding."
Catholic school principals said they are stressed as they attempt to secure teachers for next year, organise specialist literacy programs and devise other critical learning resources.
School principal Michael Hopley is attempting to maintain the specialist programs he runs for disadvantaged students at his Catholic school, Our Lady Queen of Peace, in Sydney's west.
"We run a number of programs for children who have high needs and there is uncertainty about whether they can continue," he said.
Mr Birmingham has been attempting for more than six months to shepherd a funding package through Cabinet — so far without success.
Public schools 'worse off under bilateral agreement mix'
The Australian Education Union is running a campaign for continuation of Gonski funding for public schools.
It released data yesterday that it said showed many public schools around the country were worse off under the current mixture of bilateral agreements.
The influential Independent Schools Council of Australia has also been raising its frustration for several weeks.
What is the Gonski Report?
- Commissioned by Federal Government in 2010 and chaired by businessman David Gonski
- Review panel received more than 7,000 submissions, visited 39 schools, and consulted 71 education groups across Australia.
- Presented its findings November 2011, and Government released report in February 2012.
- The Gonski report says funding needs to be increased by about $5 billion per year across all schooling sectors.
- It says one third of that funding should come from the Commonwealth.
- Additional costs to be negotiated between all governments.
- Report is says funding should go to government sector, due to greater need.
Mr Birmingham said investment in schools is set to grow under the Turnbull Government by $4 billion during the next four years.
"We must get this right," Mr Birmingham said.
"The Turnbull Government is committed to correcting the 27 special deals and arrangements we inherited from the previous Labor government."
NSW is one of the only states to have signed on to the schools funding model developed under former prime minister Julia Gillard, which has become known as Gonski funding.
South Australia and the ACT also signed the Gonski deal, but other states signed agreements under the Abbott government with various arrangements in place.
Political debate has centred on a group of what Mr Birmingham has described as "overfunded" schools, which include about 35 of the nation's most wealthy schools among a wider group of about 150 independent schools.
But the funds the Government could claw back from those wealthy schools would not go anywhere near to solving a looming education budget shortfall.
Topics: education, federal-government, federal---state-issues, schools, australia
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