By Holly Thompson
Almost $1.6 billion will be invested in West Australian public schools over the next four years through a new state and federal government agreement.
The agreement has resulted in the state becoming the first in the country bar the ACT to fully fund each student to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard — the estimate of the minimum amount of funding schools need to meet students’ educational needs.
The funding will mean WA is the first state in Australia to fund public school students to the minimum amount required to support their academic success. Credit: Holly Thompson
WA public schools are currently funded to 95 per cent. While the federal government will increase its share from 20 to 22.5 per cent, the state government will lift its share from 75 to 77.5 per cent of funding.
The state’s most disadvantaged schools will be first in line to receive the extra funding, followed by all other public schools in the state by 2026.
But the State School Teachers’ Union WA, and its national counterpart, have said the amount promised will still leave schools 4 per cent short.
They said the funding share was “artificially inflated” through the inclusion of costs not directly related to the education of students in schools, such as capital depreciation, transport and regulatory costs.
SSTUWA President Matt Jarman addressed the media on Wednesday. Credit: Holly Thompson
WA union president Matt Jarman said this 4 per cent was equivalent to a loss of $230 million in 2023 alone.
“Equally, public school infrastructure requires state and federal government investment, and we will continue to lobby for that,” he said.
“This can make an immediate difference around core issues such as salaries and class sizes – stopping the exodus of teachers, attracting back those who have left and future-proofing the profession.”
But he said the funding would still go a long way in helping some of the state’s most disadvantaged students.
“It is the bare minimum of the minimum standard of funding that we’ve been working for, for more than a decade, and we welcome it,” he said.
“What we now see is a recognition that the state and federal governments are facing the facts and are addressing fixing the public education system.”
Australian Education Union president Correna Haythorpe said WA’s deal had to be the first step rather than the final agreement.
She said short-changing WA schools was short-changing students “at a time when we can least afford it”.
“The challenges are too great and the human costs too high not to fully resource our schools,” Haythorpe said.
“We don’t have a level playing field in education that ensures every child gets an opportunity to succeed. Fixing that starts with funding.”
AEU President Correna Haythorpe
“We have a teacher shortage crisis caused by crippling workloads, unacceptable achievement gaps between children from different backgrounds and locations and a worrying decline in student mental health and wellbeing.
“We don’t have a level playing field in education that ensures every child gets every opportunity to succeed. Fixing that starts with funding.”
Other states are calling for the Commonwealth to lift its share even higher, by 5 per cent.
When questioned on this, state Education Minister Tony Buti said that was a matter for them to sort out, but he hoped WA’s agreement would motivate others to work out funding increases sooner rather than later.
“I’m the Minister of Western Australia. Our number one priority is the education of the public students in Western Australia. That’s what I’m focused on, and in regards to issues in other states, it’s best to ask them,” he said.
“We are in a sound financial position. The reason that we can reach this agreement today is that we have the ability to commit to that increase in funding to ensure the 75.5 per cent of the SRS.”
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said an agreement was needed across the country.
“We’re negotiating with states right now, this is just the start,” he said.
“I’m not going to negotiate the deal on telly. That’s not the right thing to do. I’m going to do what I did with Tony and we’re going to work on this together and make sure we get this done.”
The changes to funding structures were announced on Wednesday morning, the first day most students returned to school for 2024.
Buti said the agreement would create a stronger public education system in WA.
“Any reforms will focus on improving equity and excellence in schools, supporting the wellbeing of students and teachers, and providing a strong and sustainable workforce of teachers and non-teaching school staff,” he said.
The increase is especially aimed at students from low socio-economic backgrounds, regional, rural, and remote Australia, students with disability, First Nations students and students from a language background other than English.
WA Premier Roger Cook said the funding ensured no child would be left behind.
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