Gonski schools funding by Turnbull Government creates confusion

Schools in the northern district may have been “robbed” of $4,552,474 under the new federal education policy according to state officials, but the Turnbull Government contests this figure.

A teacher talks to students. Picture: Thinkstock

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Schools in the northern district may have been “robbed” of $4,552,474 under the new federal education policy according to state officials, but the Turnbull Government contests this figure.

NSW education officials have criticised the federal Gonski 2.0 schools funding arrangements – announced in last week’s Budget – saying they will provide less than they were previously entitled to.

They refer to a six-year funding agreement between the state and federal governments, signed during the O’Farrell government term, which was to run until 2019.

State officials say the new policy will not deliver the $7 million they projected they would have been entitled to under the former deal.

Instead they were allocated $4.5 million in last wek’s Budget.

Every primary and high school in the northern district will receive less money, according to the state’s calculations.

The biggest loser would be Carlingford West Public School.

The state says under the old deal, Carlingford West would have received an additional $475,186 in federal funding for 2018.

Instead, the Budget allocated it only $110,500 – a reduction of $364,686.

Epping West was next. The federal funding increase of $108,600 for 2018 was actually a reduction of $312,688, according to the state.

Epping West, with 1095 students, is one of at least two schools at near capacity, yet it suffered among the biggest funding blows in the budget announcement.

The other is Murray Farm Public School in Carlingford. It has 955 students, but saw a funding reduction of $222,456.

The school least impacted was Melrose Park Public School, which saw funding reduced by $36,653.

However, Bennelong federal Liberal MP John Alexander warned against using the figures quoted by the state.

Liberal Bennelong MP John Alexander. Picture: Adam Ward

He said the Gillard Government’s Gonski program promised funding for six years but only the first four years were projected in the Budget.

“Years five and six were not budgeted. That is where the (anticipated) increase in spending went up enormously,” Mr Alexander said.

“We didn’t only honour what was in the Budget, we increased that spending.

“As for the unverified amounts in years five and six, no one was ever going to pay that,’ he said.

“You can’t take from someone what they never had.”

The Budget would increase education funding by $18 billion over 10 years, according to Mr Alexander.

The funding arrangements will be discussed by state and federal ministers when the Council of Australian Governments’ Education Council meets on Thursday.