New data shows slump in public school funding

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New data shows slump in public school funding

By Matthew Knott

Government funding for public schools fell by more than $200 per student from 2009 to 2013 in real terms while increasing by over $500 per student in the independent school sector, new research shows.

The figures, based on updated data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) and adjusted for inflation, show total government funding for Australian public schools fell by $224 per student between 2009 and 2013. Government funding for Catholic schools increased by $716 per student and by $574 per independent school student.

The figures, compiled by public schools lobby group Save our Schools, cover the years leading up to the start of the Gonski school funding arrangements in 2014. Save our Schools convenor Trevor Cobbold said the figures show why both sides of politics should commit to funding the full six years of Gonski, where the biggest spending increases were scheduled for years five and six.

"Unless there is a national recommitment to the Gonski plan, it is unlikely that there will be any significant change in funding trends and the needs of disadvantaged students will continue to be ignored," Mr Cobbold said.

"The dismemberment of the plan by the federal government and several state/territory governments will see the continuation of the large gap in school outcomes between rich and poor."

The Abbott government says it will fund only the first four years of Gonski while Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has recently refused to repeat past promises to fund the full six years.

The report finds the decline in real government funding for public schools was driven by reduced state and territory government funding. NSW government funding for public schools fell by $415 per student in real terms while Victorian government funding fell by $576.

Federal government funding for public schools increased by $133 compared to $621 for Catholic schools and $521 for independent schools.

According to the authority, public schools received an average $11,864 government funding per student in 2013 compared to $9547 for Catholic schools and $7790 for independent schools.

When fees and other income sources were included, public schools had a net recurrent income of $12,548 per student compared to $12,117 for Catholic schools and $16,601 for independent schools.

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A spokesman for Education Minister Christopher Pyne said federal government funding for public schools will grow by $1.9 billion from 2014-15 to 2018-19, a 36 per cent increase. This compares to a 23 per cent increase over the same period for non-government schools.

National Catholic Education Commission executive director Ross Fox said the Save our Schools report was based on "emotion and ideology, not the reality of school funding and the needs of schools and students".

"Analysis of Australian schools should focus on how to improve the learning and teaching for all students in every classroom rather than pitting school against school and sector against sector," he said.

Catholic schools receive 80 per cent of the government funding public schools receive per student and have lower net recurrent income per student than public schools, Mr Fox said.

Yvonne Luxford, executive director of the Independent Schools Council of Australia, said it was a "great pity" the report perpetuates the divide between public and non-government schools.

Australian Education Union president Correna Haythorpe said: "This research shows that prior to the Gonski reforms we had a flawed system which did not direct funding increases to the neediest schools and students.

"We need Gonski to close those gaps in resources and ensure all students attend a school that can meet their needs."

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