IEUA Supports Funding Certainty and Calls for Funding Review

“The Independent Education Union of Australia welcomes the Labor Party’s announcement today guaranteeing funding certainty for Australia’s schools for the next funding quadrennium,” said Lynne Rolley, Federal Secretary of the Independent Education Union of Australia.

“Forty two billion dollars is on the table for school education for the 4 year period 2009 to 2012, together with a commitment that no school will lose funding under a Rudd Labor government,” she said.

 “And Labor’s statement goes on to say that that Federal Labor “will only make additions to schools funding not subtractions,” she said. “These are important commitments.”

“Nevertheless, the IEU believes that urgent work is required to reform the current SES funding model. The Howard government’s approach to the funding of schools has not been transparent and has produced a system which is seen by most as unfair and inequitable” said Ms Rolley.

“When the IEU met with Minister Bishop in 2006 she advised that a review of the operation of the SES funding model would be undertaken by the Department. In the end, this “review” was done secretly and excluded stakeholders”, said Ms Rolley.

“It was a missed opportunity by Minister Bishop to consult with stakeholders and to give confidence to the community that Commonwealth funding was being distributed fairly and transparently.”

“The SES funding model has produced significant discrepancies in funding outcomes. The IEU calls on Stephen Smith to commit to a major review of the funding of schools during the 2009-2012 quadrennium  – a review which is open and transparent and which involves all education stakeholders

“The goal of such a review should be to ensure that Australia’s education systems are comprehensive and properly resourced to ensure that the MCEETYA Goals of Schooling are met, no matter where students live or which school they go to.”

“While teachers and students are being required to demonstrate they are meeting high benchmark standards of teaching and learning, governments must be able to demonstrate that the level of resources going to schools meet international benchmarks.  We look forward to Labor’s establishing a transparent review of Commonwealth funding in order to give clarity as to whether this is happening,” said Ms Rolley