Greens stick to attack on private schooling

THE Greens are committed to stripping funds from private schools in their new education policy, despite removing some of the most hostile measures.

THE Greens remain committed to stripping funds from private schools in their new education policy, despite removing some of the most hostile measures.

The policy no longer contains calls to freeze funding for private schools at 2003-04 levels.

But the Greens still insist the "substantial" growth in federal funding to non-government schools "has had an adverse impact on public education".

Their new policy demands public funding for private schools "not advantage private education at the expense of public education".

It calls for the development of a funding model that takes into account parental socio-economic status in determining support for private schools.

The new policy removes reference to "invest(ing) the money saved from ending public subsidies to the very wealthiest private schools into a national equity funding program for public schools".

But it still refers to "ending the public funding of those non-government schools that are very wealthy" under the party's proposed funding model, in a clause not contained in a discussion version of the policy prepared for the Greens' recent national conference.

Private schools would be forced to follow a similar admissions and expulsions policy to government schools, and have less freedom in hiring staff.

Greens leader Christine Milne said earlier this week the policy "strongly" reaffirmed her party's "support for a properly and fairly funded public education system".

Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Michelle Green yesterday said the Greens "don't understand the premise of funding whatsoever".

"The Greens seem to have this view that schools funding is a zero-sum game," Ms Green said.

"Money that is given to independent schools . . . does not take extra funds away from the government sector."

Ms Green said the sector was not subject to less scrutiny than government schools.

Kevin Donnelly from the Education Standards Institute said the Greens' proposed regulatory regime would rob religious schools of their special character and restrict parental choice.