Qlders say private education is too expensive, experts warn the extra cost brings little benefit
As Queenslanders fret over the rising price of a private education, experts have made a damning assessment of its value. YOUR SAY SURVEY RESULTS
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Queenslanders have sounded the alarm over exorbitant school fees, with 60 per cent of Sunshine State residents saying the price of private education is too high, The Courier-Mail’s Your Say sentiment survey has found.
The survey, which garnered responses from 8000 Sunshine State residents, revealed 60 per cent of Queensland parents thought private schools were too expensive.
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The Courier-Mail this year revealed that All Hallows’ School increased fees by 5.5 per cent to $11,450 for Year 7 in 2020.
Elite Brisbane Grammar School secondary fees are $27,540 per year, while sister school Brisbane Girls Grammar’s fees for Years 7-12 are $25,782 per year.
Southwest Queenslanders felt private education would cause the most hip pocket pain, with 64.72 per cent saying private education is too costly, followed by those who live in other southeast areas at 63.61 per cent.
Queenslanders in northern Greater Brisbane areas were the third most likely to think private school is too expensive with 60.85 per cent of residents in the area sounding the alarm over fees.
Sunshine Coast residents followed closely behind with 59.93 per cent objecting to private education costs, only slightly ahead of 59.08 per cent Central Queenslanders, and 59.03 per cent Far North Queenslanders.
Of those living in south Greater Brisbane, 58.8 per cent objected to private school costs, followed by 57.64 per cent of Gold Coast respondents.
The Sunshine State residents least likely to object to fees were North Queenslanders with just 54.14 per cent objecting to the costs of private education.
Southern Cross University associate professor David Zyngier said the average cost of educating a high school student was around $15,000 per annum.
“That’s the set costs for the average student so any private or non government school that charges more than $15,000, one has to ask the question what are they doing with that,” he said.
“If they’re charging $25,000 or $30,000, then parents should be asking themselves what they get for that additional money,” he said.
He explained that while parents pay more fees at independent schools, both public and private education outcomes balance out.
“Parents have been sold a story that private is better and unfortunately it is not,” Prof Zyngier said.
“When you compare private schools (and public schools) with the same socio-economic status … the public school does better.”
UQ senior lecturer in education Dr Anna Hogan said there had been a trend of increasing public school enrolments.
“There seems to be an understanding in the public school sector, that middle-class parents who have the choice to pay for school fees are actually starting to more closely consider what they’re paying for education,” she said.
Parents were questioning why they would pay $30,000 in elite school costs when their children could have a good education at a select public school, she said.
Brisbane father Brad Spark said as everyday middle-class parents, he and his wife Danielle realised private school was expensive, but it was a price they’re happy to pay for the benefit of their children.
He said private education meant smaller class sizes, more extra-curricular and sporting activities and more opportunities for their three children.
“There’s a strong sense of community and connections for later in life,” he said.
“I didn’t go to a private school but I personally feel the opportunities of private schools are better than what I had.”
Is private education too expensive?
Yes 59.9 per cent
No 40.1 per cent
“Yes” vote by electorate region
64.72 per cent – Southwest Queensland
63.61 per cent – Other Southeast Qld
60.85 per cent – Greater Brisbane – North
59.93 per cent – Sunshine Coast
59.08 per cent – Central Queensland
59.03 per cent – Far north Queensland
58.8 per cent – Greater Brisbane – South
57.64 per cent – Gold Coast
54.14 per cent – North Queensland