Private schools seek certainty on funding

PRIVATE schools want assurances that promised extra funding will be indexed to inflation, as unions demanded most new cash be spent on the government sector.

teacher

PRIVATE schools say they want assurances that promised extra funding will be indexed to inflation, as the peak education union demands the bulk of new cash be spent on the struggling government sector.

The independent education sector today welcomed a pledge by Julia Gillard that every private school would receive more money under the government's response to the Gonski report.

But the Association of Independent Schools of NSW called for details on the level of indexation, the period over which the funding would be rolled out and the manner in which it would be phased in.

“We've been negotiating this with the government for a good six to eight months and we are reasonably pleased with how these discussions have gone,” executive director Geoff Newcombe said.

“But we need more details. We believe the rate of indexation should be laid out and the period of funding should be around six years in order to give some certainty.

“It should also be phased in over that period of time.

“We want to make sure there are no real losers in this and that the indexation rate for all schools is such that no school loses in the long term.”

Mr Newcombe said the Coalition suggestion that indexation should be set at a rate of 6 per cent was welcome.

“That allows us to keep pace with education trends, to pay our teachers appropriately and to implement mentoring programs in our school for young teachers which are so important.”

“I think indexation has got to reflect the true cost of inflation and that gives us the opportunity to meet global trends that are producing good quality teaching outcomes.”

The Prime Minister told the Independent Schools National Forum today that the government should contribute to the education of every Australian child.

“I believe government support for a child's education is one of the entitlements of citizenship,” she said.

“No matter how rich or poor your parents are or where you go to school, our nation should provide a basic degree of support to your education: because you are Australian, because you are part of the whole.”

She said the government's response to the Gonski report would recognise the diversity of Australian schools and parents' education choices.

“That's why our plans will deliver funding security for your schools. All students, regardless of school, will be funded on a consistent basis for the first time,” Ms Gillard said.

“Every independent school in Australia will see their funding increase under our plan.”

 President of the Australian Education Union Angelo Gavrielatos told The Australian that the bulk of any additional education spending should go to public schools.

“That is what the Gonski review has recommended,” Mr Gavrielatos said.

“The overwhelming majority should and must go to government schools.”

Mr Gavrielatos said it was important for the government to release its full response to the Gonski education review soon.

Tony Abbott said Julia Gillard's pledge for increased schools funding could not be believed unless the government indicated exactly where the money was coming from.

“(Ms Gillard will) write cheque after cheque after cheque because she knows she will probably never have to cash it,” Mr Abbott said.

“Unless the government is prepared to release its own Gonski modelling, unless the government can indicate exactly where the added billions are coming from, the parents of Australia will know that their schools funding is not safe under this Prime Minister.”