Education Union calls on Minister to clarify school funding remarks

Media Release - 25 August

The Minister for Education, Peter Garrett needs to clarify his remarks in relation to school funding and send a message to all schools that their funding is guaranteed in real terms, including Catholic and disadvantaged schools.

The IEU Federal Secretary, Mr Chris Watt said at face value it appears Minister Garrett’s speech to a principal’s conference this week used an example of a school which receives extra funding to educate disadvantaged students in order to highlight funding disparities between all schools.

“It is apparent that the Minister was referring to Sydney schools which caters for disadvantaged students, as they are the only non-government schools which receive the amount mentioned by the Minister in this week’s speech,” said Mr Watt.

The only non-government schools receiving $13,000 per student in funding are schools which receive additional targeted funding such as Giant Steps in Gladesville NSW, which caters for students with autism or Our Lady of Mt Carmel at Waterloo which has 60 per cent Indigenous students and 61 per cent of students from families in the lowest socio economic quartile

"Schools which cater for predominately disadvantaged students are generally acknowledged to be underfunded, and should not be used to make political points.

"Without clarification by the Minister, the confusion about funding arrangements will continue to contribute to the propaganda of partisan and prejudiced critics of the need for fair funding for ALL schools.

“Minister Garrett’s address does not reflect the fact that both government and Catholic schools are funded as whole education systems, and then redistributed to the schools on the basis of need.

“It is alarming to see a review about the way all schools are funded seems to have turned into a review of the way catholic and independent schools are funded.

“Schools communities are concerned that the Minister is trying to soften the Catholic and non-government schools for a cut in their funding,” said Mr Watt.

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