A new budget analysis released by the Australian Education Union (AEU) shows that public schools risk receiving $390 million less in funding in 2014 if the federal and state governments fail to establish the Gonski school funding reforms by the start of next year. The cut would equate to the loss of over 3,000 teacher positions, according to the author of the analysis, Dr. Jim McMorrow.
Conducted in 2011, the Gonski Review has been the most comprehensive review of Australian school funding in the last 40 years. It was commissioned by the federal government and carried out by panel of experts lead by senior businessman David Gonski.
Analysis results indicated that the current funding system was not investing enough in schools nor distributing its spending fairly, catering mostly to the private education sector.
The review also showed large gaps in student achievement. Students from disadvantaged areas were three years behind in schooling than those living in wealthy areas. One in seven 15-year-olds were found to lack basic reading abilities.
As a response, the Gonski review recommended that every student be given a base level of funding from state and federal governments, with additional means delivered to disadvantaged students. In contrast, the amount received by private schools would vary depending on the revenue gained from tuition fees.
This Friday, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and state officials will meet to establish the terms for next years’ education funding budget. Ahead of the meeting, Gillard is negotiating an agreement to have a $6.5 billion increase in state and federal spending by 2019.
Meanwhile, AEU has been campaigning to encourage legislation of the Gonski-inspired funding system. “The weeks ahead are critical to achieving our long-time political objective of full, fair, and equitable funding for education,” said AEU Federal President, Angelo Gavrielatos.
Creative Commons Love: Greens MPs on Flickr.com
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