Huge education divide as schools get millions in ‘voluntary’ fees

Some public schools are raking in $1 million extra a year through voluntary fees while others don’t get a cent. Search our list to find out how much your child’s school received.

Some public schools are raking in $1 million in extra cash a year while others don’t get a cent.

Voluntary contributions to public schools have earned some campuses up to $3.4 million in three years at a time when other schools received nothing.

Data obtained by the Sunday Herald Sun through Freedom of Information reveals ever

y state school’s voluntary contributions over three years to 2018, with surprising results.

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Last year alone, optional fees added $16.8 million to Victoria’s public school coffers, up 4 per cent to the year before.

It comes after the Sunday Herald Sun found parents were being tricked into giving hundreds of dollars a year in voluntary payments.

Among the tactics of Victorian schools, some prefilled amounts up to $380 for fees that did not have to be paid, sent repeat reminders for bills with voluntary amounts and listing optional fees — including for building maintenance — under “Essential Educational Items”.

Sunday Herald Sun analysis shows the Victorian School of Languages was the top earner, getting $1.2 million last year alone, and $3.38m since 2016.

The school teaches languages to 1400 students online and 13,000 in face-to-face classes.

It was followed by Balwyn High, with more than 2000 students, earning $875,751 last year and $2.5 million since 2016.

Voluntary contributions to public schools have earned some campuses up to $3.4 million in three years at a time when other schools received nothing.

Their donations were worlds apart from the tiny campus of Orbost North Primary, which with 30 students received $0 in three years, and Dandenong Primary, with 400 kids getting $2 in 2016 and nothing since.

And while the total optional fees for schools across the state had risen, money was clearly tight for families at some schools — more than 60 campuses received no voluntary cash in the past two years, up 20 per cent.

The Department of Education confirmed the extra money isn’t considered when allocating funding to schools, with the government’s budgets based on the Student Resource Package (SRP).

But some similar-sized schools in the same suburbs are raking in more than seven times the amount of donations as others, despite having the same level of advantage.

In Beaumaris, its two primary schools take in voluntary contributions with massive differences, despite both having about 600 students.

Where Beaumaris North Primary, with a lower socio-educational advantage score, was given $475,852 over three years, its neighbour Beaumaris Primary received $64,267.

Earlier this year, the NSW Parents and Citizens Association found up to 80 per cent of parents didn’t realise the contributions were voluntary.

A Department of Education spokesman said school councils develop parent payment policies “in line with the needs and expectations of the school community.

“The Department revised its policy in 2017 to make the parent payment processes more fair, transparent and inclusive, so every student can participate in school activities and be supported to learn,” he said.

Department policy requires schools to give enough detail to parents so they know what they’re being charged for.

VIEW YOUR STATE SCHOOL’S VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS:

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