While there’s ongoing political turmoil in Canberra, students in Australian public schools are missing out on much needed support, Federation President Maurie Mulheron said today.
“This is why Australian schools and students need the certainty of a needs-based funding model that addresses the needs of all students, and is beyond the petty, partisan politics of Canberra,” he added.
The original Gonski review introduced the concept of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS). The SRS defined the minimum per-student funding needed to meet the educational needs of students, with additional loadings to be allocated according to students’ relative socio-educational disadvantage.
The Liberal-National government has slashed $17 billion from schools funding over the next decade and implemented a model under which the majority of public schools will not reach the minimum Schooling Resource Standard.
Federation calls on those elected to lead, whoever they may be, to place education and education spending above political conflicts — both between and within parties — and pass legislation that secures the Schooling Resource Standard and necessary loadings for all Australian students.
The Federal Government must:
- immediately reverse the $1.9 billion cut to public schools for 2018-2019
- strike agreements with the states and territories to ensure every public school is funded at 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard by 2023
- establish a capital fund to ensure all classrooms and facilities are properly maintained and new schools are built top meet the needs of a growing population.
- immediately reverse cuts to disability funding, and ensure funding for students with disability align with the actual costs of providing a high-quality education.