Education Tax Rebate Fails Schools and Ignores Students with Special Needs

“The announcement by Prime Minister Howard in relation to tax rebates for school fees further exacerbates the failing arrangements for school funding that this federal government has presided over” said Independent Education Union of Australia Assistant Federal Secretary Chris Watt.

“This wealth of money that the Prime Minister has splurged in nothing more than a cynical vote buying exercise could have and should have been better targeted at areas of need” said Chris Watt.

“We know that there are areas of particular disadvantage in educational opportunities across this country including rural and remote schooling, indigenous education and students with special needs.”

“This vast outlay could have been used in a targeted fashion to deal with these needs” he said.

“Teachers and parents have been calling on the government to address the critical difficulties facing students with disabilities in the classroom.  These calls have gone unheeded”

“Teachers are continually reporting increased difficulties arising from student management problems in their classrooms and the need for resources like school counsellors.”

“The needs of these students are going unheeded as are the needs of the other students in the classroom whose learning is impacted because of the lack of support resources are going unheeded.”

“The Howard government’s approach to the funding of schools over the last decade has produced a system which is seen by most as unfair and inequitable” said Mr Watt.

“The IEU believes that any funding arrangements, including rebates, must properly measure the actual resources of a school including fees, other sources of income and also take account of the income and social circumstances of families attending schools.  It should also take account of the particular needs and circumstances of schools and their students.”

“The rebate does none of these things.  The Prime Minister’s announcement only further entrenches unfair school funding arrangements” said Mr Watt

Contact

Chris Watt

Assistant Federal Secretary

Ph  03 9254 1830      0419 259 143