Don’t pit public schools against private schools: NSW govt

The NSW government has welcomed the Gonski Review into school funding but says any changes shouldn’t be used to pit public schools against private.

An expert panel led by businessman David Gonski says Australian governments must significantly increase funding, by at least $5 billion a year, to help the nation’s students achieve their best.

About three-quarters of the outlay would go to government schools under the Gonski review’s recommendations.

Public schools should get full government funding plus any loadings – with the split between the commonwealth and states and territories to be negotiated, the review said.

For non-government schools, it said government funding should make up any shortfall in the resource standard not provided by private funding sources such as fees.

NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said the government supported the review’s call for every child to have the best education “regardless of where they live, the income of their family, or the school they attend”.

However he cautioned against using funding reforms to “pit public schools against private schools”.

“Australia needs a system of school funding that can lift attainment across schools – public or private,” Mr Piccoli said in a statement.

“Schools with higher needs should receive additional funds, regardless of what sector they are in.

“New South Wales looks forward to participating in discussions with the commonwealth, state and territory governments to progress the next steps towards reform of the school funding system.”

The NSW Teachers Federation says it is imperative the reforms don’t become a “political football”.

“What is clear is that resources delayed are resources denied,” president Maurie Mulheron said in a statement.

“The underfunding of our public schools cannot be allowed to continue.

“We call on all state and federal politicians, across all parties, to work together in the common interest of Australian school children.”

The NSW Greens said the Gonski report squandered an opportunity to redirect funding from private to public schools.

“The panel had before it proposals that would have addressed the inequity between the public and non-government sectors,” Greens MP John Kaye said.

“Instead it has folded to the loudest voices in the debate, the private school lobby.

“The recommendations would drag the NSW government into the federal government’s funding formula, leaving in place and in some cases increasing the subsidies to the state’s extremely wealthy private schools.”

The Public Education Foundation (PEF) welcomed the Gonski Review’s support for philanthropic fundraising for education.

“Crucially, the review recognises that an even playing field does not currently exist between public and private schools when it comes to philanthropy,” PEF chief executive Verity Firth said.

The review recommends the establishment of a national fund to promote philanthropy for the government school sector, Ms Firth said.

“We call on the federal government to implement this finding from the review.”

The independent schools sector said further detail was needed before it could assess the recommendations.

Dr Geoff Newcombe, executive director of the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, said he was pleased the review recognised there was a special case for improving funding for disadvantaged students, including those with a disability.”

“However, it is now critical for the government to respond in detail to the recommendations,” he said.

“This includes attaching actual dollars to a new funding model so that independent schools know as soon as possible if there will be any changes to their funding arrangements.”