Public School Funding Shortfall

Federal Labor continues under-funding public schools

A nationwide survey of principals conducted by the Australian Education Union (AEU) shows a major shortfall in investment from the Federal Government.

387 NSW principals responded out of 1396 principals across the country. Results revealed:

• The majority (81.1%) of schools have undertaken fundraising in the last year, (73.4%) for basic classroom equipment followed by Library resources and textbooks (61.1%) and sporting teams and play equipment (53.2%).
• 68.9% of NSW Schools are experiencing teacher shortages.
• The top concern for principals is funding for school buildings and maintenance (85.5%)
• According to principals surveyed the Rudd Government�s top priorities should be: -Investing more in our public schools to lower class sizes and deliver more individual attention to students (51%) -Ensuring all public schools are able to offer a rich and rigorous curriculum (22%)

• More help for individual students (77.2%)
• Building maintenance or improvements (74%)
• Information and communication technology (67.3%)
• More welfare support (55.7%)
• More learning resources (50.9%)
• More Administrative and staff support (45.8%)

• New specialist rooms or areas (eg. For science, art and music) (52.8%)
• Equipment for specialist areas (54.1%)
• Improve classroom appearance (59.1%)
• Toilets (54.%)
• New general classrooms (44.8%)

The findings of recent reports from respected independent analysts Adam Rorris (16-6-08) and Jim McMorrow (27-8-08) demonstrate that public schools have missed out in the last decade. These reports appear on AEU.

NSW teachers are campaigning with the Australian Education Union to convince the Rudd Labor Government to significantly increase funding for public schools.

Parents are being encouraged to join teachers in lobbying federal Members of Parliament for funding increases by using the website For Our Future.

For further information

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Last Modified: 13 Oct 2008