Victorian government claims proposed funding agreement leaves schools short-changed

Victorian public schools would be short-changed under the proposed Gonski 2.0 agreement, according to the Andrews Government.

The Victorian and federal governments remain locked in a standoff over school funding, which Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned threatens independent and Catholic schools.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Education Minister James Merlino again launched an attack on the proposed Gonski 2.0 agreement yesterday, claiming it would short-change public schools.

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Education Minister James Merlino and Premier Dan Andrews have attacked Gonski 2.0.

Victoria and Queensland remain the only states or territories holding out on the deal ahead of a meeting of all education ministers tomorrow.

Under the agreement, the federal government would fund 80 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard for Catholic and independent schools, with the states to cover the remaining 20 per cent.

It would be the inverse 20-80 split for public schools.

Victoria agreed to increase its funding from the current share of about 66 per cent to 75 per cent — but refuses to reach 80 per cent, leaving the remaining 5 per cent unfunded.

“Don’t think Victoria is going to be signing up to any dud multi-year deal that short-changes our kids. We just won’t do it,” Mr Andrews said yesterday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said rejecting the deal risked a funding delay. Picture: AAP

But Mr Morrison wrote in a tough-talking letter that Victoria was turning down $5 billion in school funding next year “to make a political point”.

“Victoria already lags behind all other states in its commitment to school funding,” Mr Morrison said.

A deadline to sign the deal passed last Friday and Mr Morrison said if Victoria failed to strike an agreement soon, it “risks record funding for Victorian schools being delayed”.