Gonski school recommendations no Canberra takeover: PM

JULIA Gillard has dismissed fears that school review recommendations would amount to a federal takeover of the running of public schools.

JULIA Gillard says West Australian Premier Colin Barnett is wrong to suggest school review recommendations would amount to a federal takeover of the running of public schools.

As states digest the implications of the Gonski review of school funding, and how a new funding model could be implemented, Mr Barnett has accused Canberra of wanting to pool state education funds and then administer the schools.

However the Prime Minister, speaking in Adelaide, said states would retain responsibility for the management of public schools.

“I am concerned that Premier Barnett would somehow take a message from this major review on school funding that it is about who controls schools,” Ms Gillard said while visiting Joint Strike Fighter jet manufacturer BAE Systems before meeting with Labor Premier Jay Weatherill to discuss the Murray River, Ms Gillard

“It's not about who controls schools - states will continue to run and manage state schools; the independent schools will run themselves as they do now; the Catholic education system will manage Catholic schools.”

“Overwhelmingly as we look around the nation, states, the Catholic school system , independent schools are doing a great job but we need to keep getting better for the future.

“It's not about taking over the management of schools. Premier Barnett in Western Australia would continue to be the leader of what happens in public education there.”

School Education Minister Peter Garrett also rejected Mr Barnett's fears of a federal takeover.

“This is too important a task to get diverted by what we see as traditional discussions and debate about state and Commonwealth responsibility,” he said.

Mr Weatherill said he did not share the concerns of Liberal state governments about the pooling of education money recommended under the Gonski review.

“I don't share those criticisms. I'm favourably disposed to the Gonski review,” Mr Weatherill said.

“I can't understand any state premier not wanting to be part of this - it for the first time systematically calls for commonwealth and state governments to be involved in the funding of education.”

“If you care about public education it simply does not make sense to have state governments funding public education and the commonwealth government funding private education.”

The school funding review by businessman David Gonski recommends funding per student be based on a new national standard that reflects the actual resources used by schools which consistently achieve high results.

It calls for a $5 billion funding boost and said Australian governments must spend more money on schools with high numbers of disadvantaged students.