Education funding must go to where it does some good

Any new education funding reforms agreed to at the upcoming COAG meeting must address the disparate levels of concentrations of disadvantage between the public and private schools in NSW, said Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

‘Public schools serve growing numbers of disadvantaged’, Sydney Morning Herald, 11 April, page 2

Dr Kaye said: “The report released by the Australian Education Union confirms that the state’s public schools are doing much more of the heavy lifting. Meanwhile, non-government schools are receiving the majority of the funding increases.

“The erosion of public education’s share of state and federal funding since 2000 has driven middle-class parents into the private school sector.

“Without a substantial change in direction, the current division of resources between the public and private sectors will lock in a growing level of community disadvantage.

“The private school lobby is growing in political power making governments less capable of shifting resources into the public sector.

“Unless current arrangements are reversed, state and federal governments will subsidise NSW private schools by more than $16.7 billion over the next four years.

“Government funding should go where the heavy lifting is done. None should end up in the hands of the very wealthy private schools and public education must become the undivided focus of all future growth.

“When the states meet with the federal government this month at COAG, NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell will be under pressure to be the mouthpiece of the wealthy private school lobby. He should buck the trend and stand up for the future of NSW with a firm commitment to getting the full deal Gonski promised to NSW public schools.

“The new education funding reforms must address the growing disparity between the two sectors. Funding to the state’s most elite and wealthy public schools should be diverted into supporting those state schools facing the greater challenges.

“Education Minister, Adrian Piccoli and Premier Barry O’Farrell have a responsibility to provide high quality public education to all students in the state. Public money should go where it can do some good, not into dividing society or fattening up the exclusive private schools,” Dr Kaye said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455