Still waiting for funding review results

What happened to the Grimshaw Review on state government funding of private schools, asks SALLY EDSALL.

In the shadow of a looming federal election in 2001, the NSW Government announced it would review its funding of private schools. This was designed to draw attention away from state government funding and focus on the Howard Government's changes, which were predicted to largely benefit the wealthiest private schools. That review became known as the Grimshaw Review, after the reviewer, Warren Grimshaw.

In the shadow of a looming federal election in 2004, Federation awaits the outcome of that review, knowing that the predictions about who would benefit most from federal funding changes have come to pass. All that has emerged so far from the Grimshaw process is a tepid report on arrangements for the registration of new private schools. Amendments to the NSW Education Act have been drafted and are before Cabinet.

Meanwhile, the Board of Studies has been conducting a review of its registration procedures. Whilst this may tighten procedures somewhat, and help justify funding received, it in no way tackles the main issue -- what funding is received, and why it is that every time a betterment occurs in public schools, there is an automatic flow-on to private schools.

The full impact of the Federal Government's funding changes have now taken effect, and the next changes to the State Grants Act will be on the legislative agenda in 2004. Already Federal Education Minister Dr Brendan Nelson has announced that he is planning to make funding dependent on schools meeting national benchmarks in literacy and numeracy, and the implementation of accountability measures.

In the meantime, while the public education community awaits the findings of the Grimshaw Review, state government funding continues to flow to private schools, including generous endowment of expansion programs in private schools through the subsidisation of capital development through the Interest Subsidy Scheme.

Through the NSW Greens, Federation has obtained full details of state government funding of private schools. Federal funding information is also available.

Using this, Federation will be launching campaign materials for use by local activists as part of the next federal election campaign, as well as continuing to pressure the State Government to meets its primary obligation to properly fund public education.

Sally Edsall is a Research Officer.

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November 2003 contents