Private school funding policies exposed

Media reports of problems at a NSW private school run by 'a doomsday cult led by a self-proclaimed prophet who has been banned by the Vatican' again highlight the need for greater planning, accountability and regulation in the private schools sector.

Angelo Gavrielatos, Senior Vice President of the NSW Teachers Federation, said today:

"Federal funding to private schools has grown to more than $5 billion annually, yet there is little accountability for how it is spent.

"The Federal Education Minister, Dr Brendan Nelson, says he is unable to review funding for this private school because it is accredited by NSW authorities. Again we see the Howard Government shifting blame to state governments, just as it does with the issue of fairer funding for public schools.

"The Howard Government funds this private school while it ignores the needs of the nearly 70% of Australian students in public schools, who will receive only 26% of federal recurrent funding over the next four years.

"Earlier this year, it was reported that a private school on the NSW Central Coast was the subject of a complaint to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission over its links to a Trinidad-based Pentecostal church. Complaints were also made to local federal and state politicians.

"There is no federal planning and regulatory authority for the establishment of private schools.

"This latest example emphasises the need for governments at state and federal level to properly fund Australia's high quality public education system, which builds the foundations for our cohesive, multicultural, democratic society."

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