'my school' website hides funding inequality

Commenting on a story in today's Sydney Morning Herald ('Funding
details not included on site, say teachers', page 6), Dr Kaye said: "The absence of school
financial data adds yet another layer of deception to the 'my school'
website.

"Not only are the school test results deeply misleading, but important
information about government subsidies and income has been withheld.

"The website's claim to provide 'rich contextual information' is nonsense.

"'My school' should not have gone ahead without the full financial
data. Along with all the other statistical problems, community members
are left to guess the relative wealth of the schools they are supposed
to be judging.

"Schools like Trinity, Pymble Ladies College, MLC Burwood, Kings and
Knox receiving more than $5 million a year in government subsidies.

"We estimated that at least ten wealthy NSW private schools pulled in
more than $35 million a year in fees and other charges as well as
government subsidies. That is substantially more than twice the amount
equivalent-sized public schools would have spent.

"Community members looking at the 'my school' pages for Trinity,
Barker, Scots, Pymble Ladies College and Sydney Grammar would not know
that they earned more than $44 million in government subsidies, fees
and other income. They would not know that a typical one thousand
student public high school had less than $14 million spent on teachers
and other operating costs.

"Julia Gillard and Verity Firth are keen to promote their so-called
'transparency agenda' so long as it does not offend the wealthy
private school lobby.

"The education ministers' claims of 'rich contextualised information'
and full transparency are exposed as myths when important data such as
the income and subsidies of private schools are hidden from public
view," Dr Kaye said.

For more information:    John Kaye 0407 195 455