Public Education: It is our future

By Angelo Gavrielatos

In an attempt to divert attention from his government's indefensible funding policies, and no doubt in anticipation of the Australian Education Union and Federation's federal election campaign, the Prime Minister has sought to open a new front to attack public education.

On January 20 John Howard said public schools have become "too politically correct and too values-neutral".

This attack says more about the values which underpin the Howard Government's federal funding policies, namely elitism and inequity. These values stand in contra-distinction to the values of the inclusive public education system.

It is the funding policies of the Howard Government that put public education at risk, not the values taught in public schools.

At the Federal Conference of the Australian Education Union (AEU) held January 16 to 18 in Hobart, delegates from across Australia unanimously resolved to campaign to defeat the Howard Government in the upcoming federal election.

The National Public Education Campaign will be unprecedented in its scope, ensuring that in every school and college community across every electorate nationwide will expose the Howard Government's continued attack on public education.

Approximately 70 per cent of the federal education budget is allocated to private schools which educate only 30 per cent of the nation's students, illustrating that the Howard Government has turned its back on the overwhelming majority of students and families who choose public education. This is confirmed by the report released by the Productivity Commission on January 30 which shows that in 2001/02 the Federal Government provided more than $3500 per private school student compared with only $890 per public school student.

The Vinson report notes that after allowing for enrolment changes, combined federal and state government funding from 1996/97 to 2000/01 gave private schools a 45.1 per cent increase compared with a 27.4 per cent increase for public schools. These increases are clearly policy-driven. They do not reflect enrolment increases.

Under the Howard Government's funding policies, the greatest increases have gone to the wealthiest schools in the nation. Many elite private schools have had federal government funding increases of more than 200 per cent over the past few years. In NSW for example, Trinity Grammar is given $5.8 million in federal government funding. Federal Grayndler MP Anthony Albanese notes that in 2004 federal funding for nearby Canterbury Boys High School increased by 19.9 per cent yet Trinity Grammar's funding increased by 227 per cent.

Further research shows that in 2000/01 private schools enjoyed a 31-36 per cent funding advantage over public schools. By 2003/04 the funding advantage rose to 40-44 per cent.

The nationwide federal election campaign will be conducted under the banner of "Public Education: It is our future".

To replicate Federation's highly successful state election strategy, the NSW Public Education Alliance (consisting of parents, teachers and principals) has been reactivated.

"The greatest increases have gone to the wealthiest schools in the nation."

The NSW Public Education Alliance federal election campaign will be launched February 22. A well as exposing the Howard Government's agenda and failed policies, the campaign aims to pressure the ALP and the minor parties to announce pro-public education policies in the lead-up to the federal election. They must make central to their federal election education policies a priority commitment to the provision of public education and training, a major investment in education, an end to funding of the wealthiest private schools and the redistribution back to public schools of that funding currently given to private schools.

They must also give a clear commitment that they will oppose the States Grants Act (the legislation which determines federal funding to schools), which will be re-debated in Federal Parliament this year.

The campaign will be supported by a nationwide television and radio advertising campaign. Placards have been sent to every school and college across Australia with the campaign slogan, "Public Education: It is our future".

There will be specific attention and resources allocated to key targeted seats, however, in recognition of the increasingly important role played by the Senate in Australian politics, the mobilisation of supporters in every federal electorate will be critical. To support this we must endeavour to create committees consisting of parents, teachers and principals in every electorate. Information kits, petitions, pro forma letters, media releases and relevant material will be developed to support electorate committees.

Public Education Day on May 20 will provide a great opportunity to highlight campaign objectives.

In order to further rally support, in addition to significant and high profile events and public meetings being organised in every electorate, an unprecedented national public education event in Canberra is in preparation.

The success of our campaign will be dependent upon the mobilisation of public education supporters.

It is widely recognised that this is a watershed year with respect to public education. We simply cannot afford another term of the Howard Government.

Angelo Gavrielatos is the Senior Vice President and the Federal Deputy President of the AEU.

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For further information

February 2004 contents