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Public Education Council Echoes Vinson
02 April 2005
'The recommendations of the Public Education Council reported in the Sydney Morning Herald today support the findings and recommendations of the 2002 Vinson Inquiry,' said Maree O'Halloran, President, NSW Teachers Federation.
The Government Advisory Council said in part:
"There is little dispute that the resources available to public schools are viewed as inadequate across the community and that [federal and state] public funding regimes are dysfunctional".
The recommendations of the Council are modest, careful and in line with the Vinson plan for the future direction of public education in this state. That is not surprising given that the State Government announced the formation of the Public Education Council in May 2002, in response to the first report of the Vinson Inquiry. The Council was charged in part with giving the State Government advice about the recommendations of the Vinson Inquiry.
The Council recommended that the State Government not continue to give funds to those private schools that have superior resources (either from private sources alone or in combination with Commonwealth grants) than our public schools. To continue to do so compromises the provision of the highest quality public education.
The Federal Government makes no attempt to hide its preference for private schools. It continues to fund private schools at a disproportionately greater rate than public schools.
The State Government made a good start for public schools in 2003 by announcing smaller class sizes for 5 to 7 year olds following the Vinson Inquiry. More must be done if our great schools are to continue providing the highest quality education.
The State Minister's claims about the per capita funding in NSW are distorted by the use of "notional" costs such as the "user cost of capital". It costs more to use real estate in NSW; therefore the accounting allocation of that cost makes it look as though more is being spent on our students.
The State Government must significantly increase its investment in public education in real terms in the upcoming State Budget.
For further information
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Khyiah Angel, Relieving Media Officer |
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92172100 |
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92172470 |
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