Submissions to Gonski Funding Review lodged

The NSW Teachers Federation and the Australian Education Union have made submissions to the Gonski Review of School Funding.

AEU Federal President, Angelo Gavrielatos, said that independent research commissioned by the Review confirmed the need for a fundamental overhaul of school funding and
a greater investment in public schools.

He said that this research "presents a compelling case for change in the way that our
schools are funded."

He added that a new school funding system should be underpinned by a commitment to fairness, equity and excellent outcomes for all students.

“The existing federal funding system is everything that it shouldn’t be. It is inequitable
and unsustainable and fails to deliver an adequate share of resources to public schools.

“The research clearly shows that the current funding system has contributed to a
growing inequity in outcomes and a widening of the resource gaps between public and
private schools.

“What we see in schools is increasing division along socioeconomic lines and a
concentration of disadvantage in the public sector. The research shows public schools
are educating the vast majority of students with higher needs and yet they receive only
around one third of federal funding.

“Teachers strongly support the findings in research papers which show that there needs to be a substantial injection of funds into public schools to help overcome the effects of disadvantage.

“We also support the development of a national resources standard to replace the
current inequitable system that sees private schools funded according to the average
costs of educating students in public schools.

“However, a resources standard must take into account the fundamental differences in
purpose and obligation between the public and private school sectors and the wealth
and resources at the disposal of private schools.

“Only public schools are open to all, in every community and they must be resourced to
ensure they can meet the future needs of every child.

“A return to means-testing private school funding would ensure that the money is going
to where it is needed the most and not just boosting the profits of private schools. We
should be aiming to reduce resource gaps between schools, not widen them.”

The Teachers Federation submission complements and supports that of the AEU. Deputy President of the Federation, Gary Zadkovich said that having welcomed the once-in-a-lifetime review of funding, we now look forward to a positive outcome in the interests of the majority of students who attend our public schools.