Funding cut from NSW school student Covid catch-up program

A program created to help students catch up after the Covid pandemic has been stripped of funds, causing concerns for children falling even further behind in their studies.

Funds have been stripped from a program helping students catch up after Covid, with the teachers’ union fearing it will see kids at risk fall even further behind.

This year more than $380 million in state funds was allocated to the Covid Intensive Learning Support Program, after a $335 million investment in the program in 2021 when it was set up to support students struggling after learning in lockdown.

The program will continue in 2023, however the education department will “reinvest” $75 million in unused funds from the program in the first half of next year – after which its future will be re-evaluated.

Holroyd High School in Sydney’s west has had its allocation cut from $430,000 in 2022 to $120,000 for semester 1 in 2023, principal Kylie Adams said.

“We weren’t able to use all our allocation this year as we had to take staff off the program to cover teaching and learning in classes due to the teacher shortage, but have been told that funding will not roll over for next year,” Ms Adams said.

NSW Teachers Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“Instead our allocation has been cut to $120,000 which means we will have to cut the number of teachers from four to just one.

“Our school is culturally diverse with many students from low socio-economic and refugee backgrounds, and our data shows us that many fell behind by six months due to Covid lockdowns.

“We know the program was working – 75 per cent of students on it recorded over two years growth in reading in Year 7 and 8 – but now we’ll have to limit the number of students taking part, or direct funds from other programs.”

NSW Teachers Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos said there needed to be a permanent intervention program for children at risk of falling behind.

Mr Gavrielatos said when the program was announced as a one-year program in 2021, the government said it would assist 290,000 students.

However, due to a lack of teachers to run the program, it had helped just over 185,000 students in two years.

He said schools now had to “rob Peter to pay Paul” to fund the shortfall for the program, by directing money away from programs for other disadvantaged students.

“Cutting funding for this program and forcing schools to make up the difference by depriving other high needs students of support is unconscionable,” Mr Gavrielatos said.

“Intervention programs like this are critical for children who need additional support, but they need to be fully funded and integrated into what schools do on a permanent basis. The government also needs to ensure there are sufficient teachers available across NSW.

“You can’t simply announce an add-on program like this and hope schools will be able to miraculously find the teachers and make it work for a couple of years and then start stripping away the funding.”

A Department of Education spokesperson said funding for the program had “not been cut”.

“The Department has reinvested $75 million left over from 2022 to allow schools to continue running the program for the next six months. The ability to do this was something we heard loud and clear from schools,” the spokesperson said.

“A final evaluation will be completed by the end of Term 2, 2023, and we will provide schools with advice regarding future funding.”

The program has been made available to public, Catholic and independent schools across the state.

“We’re proud to have made such a significant investment in a program to support NSW students to catch-up on their learning following Covid disruptions,” Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said.

“Initial evaluations show it’s been a success and the NSW Government is actively looking into the next phase of the program.”