Letter to the Editor - Australian Financial Review

Wednesday 3 August 2011

Gonski review should recognise fundamental funding basics

Re: Schools review needs fund of wisdom, AFR, Monday 1 August 2011

A great number of people await the release of the next issues paper from the Gonski review. Not least are the teachers who work hard to give our children a quality education.

As the union which represents teachers in Independent schools, the Independent Education Union is looking to see one major point above others: recognition that the majority of funding to government schools come from state governments, while Independent schools get their funding from the federal government.

 Many organisations have sort to misrepresent this point.

All interested parties in the Gonski review should be seeking more education funding for ALL Australian schools. Choice in our society is fundamental. Parents should have the right to choose where they send their children to school. These choices should be respected and not subject to vitriol.

The Labor Government has promised to ensure all Independent schools are no worse off and it is important that they continue to make this clear to the teachers and families who make up these school communities.
 
Chris Watt
Federal Secretary
Independent Education Union
Canberra, ACT