Public School Funding Increasing at a Slower Rate

A new report shows government funding for private schools has risen at a much faster pace than for public schools.

A Save Our Schools analysis of the latest National Report on Schooling shows that taxpayer funding for Independent private schools increased by 82 per cent per student between 2001-02 and 2008-09.

Catholic school funding increased by 64 per cent per student and public school funding by only 48 per cent.

The rapid rise in taxpayer funding helped Independent private schools operate at total funding levels far higher than public schools. In 2008-09 they were able to spend an average of $16,309 per student – 40 per cent above the public school figure of $11,591.

That is despite the higher costs of public schools which are the only ones in every community where every child is welcome.  Public schools also educate the vast majority of students with higher learning needs such as those from low-income backgrounds (79 per cent), those with disabilities (80 per cent), those from remote areas (84 per cent) and Indigenous students (86 per cent).

AEU Federal President Angelo Gavrielatos said the figures provided evidence of the need for an overhaul of schools funding arrangements.

“There is no greater challenge than to ensure quality and equity in school education,” he said.

“Achieving that requires a greater investment in our public schools. They should not be receiving funding increases which are less than private schools receive.

“We must ensure there are the highest quality public schools in every community, for every child – now and in the future.”

Mr Gavrielatos said the union was awaiting the release in the next few months of the findings of an independent inquiry set up by the Federal Government to examine schools funding. That inquiry was conducted by an expert panel headed by businessman and former chairman of Sydney Grammar, David Gonski.