Historic $1bn commitment to lift NT to full Schooling resource Standard
A billion-dollar agreement will fully fund public schools for the first time in the Territory’s history. Here’s what it means.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A billion-dollar investment in NT public schools will focus on re-engaging kids who have fallen behind in their studies, teacher and school resources, and school-based mental health.
The NT and federal governments have committed to investing at least an additional $1.087 billion into the Territory’s public education system from 2025-2029, bringing schools to the full School Resourcing Standard for the first time in NT history.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said he hoped the money would “glow in the dark” for NT schools.
He did not confirm whether a loophole clause where the NT government could artificially inflate its SRS share by four per cent would be removed in this year’s bilateral agreements.
Mr Clare said the joint-commitment was about Closing the Gap and helping kids from every background reconnect with learning.
“If little kids fall behind when they’re in first class, second class, third class, only one in five of those kids ever catch up by the time they’re in year nine,” he said.
“If you’re an Indigenous kid, it’s about one in 17.
“Catch up tutoring is one of those things that we know works – if you get a child out of a classroom of 30 (and) into a class of about three, they can learn as much in six months as you’d normally learn in 12 months.
“Then it helps them to keep up and finish school.”
Mr Clare said there was an “obvious link” between a child’s mental and physical health and their academic performance.
“If you’ve got a mental health challenge when you’re in school, then your results are going to suffer and if your results are suffering... then your mental health is going to suffer at school as well,” Mr Clare said.
He said he wanted to see the additional funding used to support kids’ wellbeing such as through additional mental health staff available to schools.
“That can help make a difference in children’s lives so that if they’re experiencing problems at home, or at school, it helps to make sure that they get the support that they need here.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was important to invest in children and their education early.
Mr Albanese said it wasn’t just about using money as a bandaid solution – it was about justice.
“If you don’t address these issues earlier, it costs taxpayers down the road because people aren’t in employment and not paying tax,” he said.
“There’s issues of justice, there’s issues of incarceration, because it costs a lot less to teach a kid in school and give them the opportunity in life than it does to keep them in incarceration down the road.”
Billion-dollar boost to fully fund public schools in NT
Every NT public school will be fully resourced by 2029 after the federal and NT governments committed to a billion dollar funding injection.
It comes after the Australian Education Union found NT public schools were underfunded by $7978 per student in 2023.
The union’s report projected the funding gap would worsen to more than $10,000 by 2028.
NT public schools are currently underfunded by about 20 per cent – meaning one in five kids are not financially supported.
Having signed a statement of intent on Wednesday, the federal government will invest at least $737.7 million from 2025-2029 into the Territory’s public school system, increasing its funding share to 40 per cent.
The NT government will boost its own funding share to 60 per cent and deliver at least $350 million in the same period.
NT Education Minister Mark Monaghan said the historic funding agreement would enable NT public schools to meet the full Schooling Resource Standard for the first time.
“This landmark investment by the Territory and federal Labor government will make an immediate difference in our schools ranging from salaries to class sizes and technology, and under this agreement our most disadvantaged schools will receive more funding first,” he said.
The announcement comes just months after the education bilateral agreements were extended for an additional 12 months.
AEU NT branch president Michelle Ayres previously said it was true NT schools were more expensive to run than schools in other states, but the funding needed to “plug” the SRS gap was “a drop in the federal bucket”.
“For the amount of money this costs, we should be setting the standard for Closing The Gap in the Territory,” she said.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said NT public schools previously would not have been fully-funded “until the middle of the century”.
Mr Clare said the combined commitment fast-tracked that time frame by more than 20 years.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the huge funding boost would ensure that “no Australian child is left behind”.
“Every young person, no matter where they live or their circumstances, deserves to have the best start to life – access to a world class education is critical to that,” Mr Albanese said.
“Education and equality go hand-in-hand, however access to quality education has been out of reach for many in the Northern Territory.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Historic $1bn commitment to lift NT to full Schooling resource Standard
Parliament blog: Bill to lower criminal age passed by CLP
The first sitting week of the 15th Legislative Assembly has concluded. Catch up on all the highlights of the CLPs productive week, where three new bills were passed.
Read more
Live stream: How to watch PINT vs St Mary’s women in Round 3
The last time these two teams met was in an incredibly close grand final. Now they get an early chance to measure up for the season ahead. Find out how to watch the match LIVE.
Read more