NSW, federal governments hand out $719m to private schools for classroom upgrades

Hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds are being funnelled into private schools across the state to fund classroom upgrades. See the schools, the projects and what they cost here.

Private schools across the state have accessed hundreds of millions of dollars in NSW Government cash to fund upgrades to teaching spaces — as the Teachers’ Federation accuse their private school counterparts of double dipping from state and federal coffers.

According to Education Department figures, more than $514 million was given to private schools across NSW as part of the state government’s Building Grants Assistance Scheme for Non-Government Schools between the 2017/18 and 2021/22 financial years.

The eye-watering sum of taxpayer funds from the NSW Education Department, used to build private school infrastructure projects across the state, comes as a further $205 million in federal funding was also accessed by private schools across NSW between 2019 and 2022.

In the last year alone, more than $81 million in state funding was handed out to 26 non-government schools to pay for new buildings — creating 7,882 additional student places in private schools.

According to NSW Education Department documents, building works ranged from classrooms, to staff spaces, technology hubs, cafes and even a TV studio.

Meanwhile, the former Federal Government handed out $621.484 million in the last four years to private schools across the country.

NSW Teachers Federation President Angelo Gavrielatos said the lack of planning and investment in public education in NSW was “totally inadequate”.

“We are seeing steady growth in enrolments in our schools at the moment, with huge increases projected, and yet the State Government gifts an additional $500 million-plus for capital works to private schools,” he said.

Angelo Gavrielatos (NSW teachers federation president) pictured speaking to media at a press conference at the NSW teachers federation office in Surry Hills. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

“On top of that, the former Federal Government put in place a capital grants fund exclusively for private schools with not one cent of that available for public schools.

“Instead of meeting the actual needs of our schools, the Auditor-General has found that School Infrastructure NSW has focused on delivering existing projects, election commitments and other government announcements.

“If the Government was doing its job, it should have been identifying and delivering projects that better meet current and future needs.”

But the Independent Schools Association chief executive Dr Geoff Newcombe hit back, telling NewsLocal the vast majority of building projects in Independent schools are “funded by borrowings repaid by parents and other private fundraising over many years”.

“In 2020, NSW Independent schools spent $737 million on capital works,” he said.

“Less than $40m came from the State and Federal Governments, parents and loans funded the remainder — (at) almost 95 per cent.

“All State and Commonwealth capital grants are prioritised to schools with the most urgent need for new teaching and learning spaces.

“Rather than complain, the NSW Teachers Federation should appreciate that non-government schools educate one-third of all NSW students, and that their families bear much of the cost, leaving more public funding for government schools.”

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said $15 billion had been invested in the NSW Government’s public school building program.

NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell during a press conference at Goodstart Early Learning in West Ryde as the government makes a significant budget announcement about early childhood education and care. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“Investment in non-government school students through building projects pales in comparison to the billions of dollars spent on public school infrastructure,” she said.

“Where the government does support infrastructure projects at non-government schools it targets areas of greatest need including financial, demographic student projections, socio-economic characteristics or classification as a special school.”

In 2019, the NSW Government committed to a $500 million increase in non-government school infrastructure projects over four years.

NSW Labor deputy leader and shadow minister for education, Prue Car, during a press conference at State Parliament on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Opposition spokeswoman Prue Car said it was “important” that infrastructure grants are tailored to areas of the highest need, “including for high growth enrolment areas and schools for students with additional needs”.

“At a time when there are significant competing pressures on Australian schools, including teacher shortages and infrastructure pressures, it’s vital funding programs get the best results possible,” she said.