Public schools ripped off by centralised purchasing policy

Commenting on a story in today's Sydney Morning Herald ('School principals do the sums on wasteful system,' page 1), Dr Kaye said: "While private schools can shop around and reduce their costs, public schools are locked into inflated prices for everything from batteries to photocopiers.

"Public school budgets are already tight before they are forced to pay more for goods and services under the government purchasing rip-off.

"Exaggerated purchasing prices are taking money away from extra teaching time, better equipment and regular maintenance.

"Principals are watching their budgets being drained away to support a bloated purchasing system.

"Education Minister Verity Firth owes the public school community an explanation. Are the inflated prices part of a systematic rip-off of the education system by her department or are they just the result of incompetence?

"In either case, she should work her colleague Commerce Minister Carmel Tebbutt to fix the problem.

"It is not possible to talk to public sector principals and teachers without hearing yet another horror story of an outrageously over-priced item on the list.

"The purchasing system not only rips off schools.

"It generally prohibits schools from using suppliers in their local communities.

"Many principals, particularly in rural and regional areas, are frustrated by the loss of opportunities to support their local economy and jobs," Dr Kaye said.

The SMH story is available at:
http://www.smh.com.au/national/school-principals-do-the-sums-on-wasteful-system-20090621-csl8.html

For more information:    John Kaye 0407 195 455