Funds method makes underdog status a plus

THE extra $300m WA stands to gain under the new school funding system is on par with that to much smaller Tasmania.

Ricky Oats with students

THE extra $300 million Western Australia stands to gain under the new school funding system is on par with the boost to funding for the much smaller state of Tasmania, and half the amount of the more compact South Australia.

While WA is the most dissatisfied state, in Tasmania's public schools there is nervous excitement that the new funding carve-up may suddenly make the state's disadvantages - high rates of poverty and lower educational outcomes - a decided advantage.

Under the changes to school funding outlined by Julia Gillard, Tasmania will receive an extra $400m over six years on top of its existing funding, while South Australia will receive about $600m.

The funding model sets a Schooling Resource Standard that is the amount of money required to educate a student to a high level.

It is based on the needs of individual students rather than the number of students enrolled at a school, and the government's plan is to lift all schools to this level of funding.

To determine this amount, the federal Education Department looked at the funding provided to schools in which 80 per cent of students met the minimum standard in reading and numeracy in all years for three years in a row.

About 1600 government and non-government schools around the nation met this criteria and the department further refined the group to those schools that achieved high results for below-average cost, to ensure efficiency was built into the model.

On this basis, the new funding model sets a minimum level of funding for every student at $9271 for primary schools and $12,193 for secondary schools.

On top of the minimum funding level, schools will receive loadings for size and location, and for disadvantaged students with disabilities, from low-income families, indigenous students and students with poor English.

To bring up all schools to the SRS, the federal government has calculated it will cost $14.5 billion over six years, plus indexation of 4.7 per cent from the commonwealth and 3 per cent from the states and territories.

The amount spent at present on schools varies from state to state. Some, notably WA, spend close to the SRS already.

In Tasmania, principals were conscious that the cash-strapped state government was yet to sign up to its side of the funding bargain and disappointed that the extra money comes partly at the expense of higher education. The University of Tasmania will lose $10m and potentially 150 jobs.

"We'd welcome the funding - it could have a huge impact - but there's a question about whether it's coming from the right source, at the expense of others," said Ricky Oates, principal of Campbell Street Primary, in inner-city Hobart.

Parents at the school, which has 253 students, 17 per cent of whom come from non-English speaking backgrounds, agreed.

Neil Cameron, grandfather of prep pupil Eleanor Newbold, said: "Our future depends on education. It is just so important, so we should be funding it properly - not by taking from higher education to give to lower education."

Leesa Wisby, mother of grade-two pupil Niamh, said she would love to see the school further supported by government funding, but not at the expense of universities.

"What's the point in improving their school education if their uni education is impacted?" she said.

Premier Lara Giddings is yet to commit to signing the reforms and yesterday expressed concern about the detail and about looming cuts to the University of Tasmania.

"The Tasmanian government is prepared to meet its share of funding for the Gonski reforms but it is critical we get the model right to ensure that the increased funding is directed to where it is most needed," she said.

While WA Premier Colin Barnett has described the funding proposal as inequitable and declared he will not join the scheme, WA Primary Principals Association president Stephen Breen said the $300m on offer seemed fair but it was essential a deal be struck.

"They (the government) need to get into that room, negotiate and come out with a figure," he said.

"We would be very disappointed if a deal is not made because the present system, which everyone understands, is broken."

Additional reporting: Nicolas Perpitch