Private schools winning big over public institutions in federal funding

NSW Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car has blasted her federal counterparts for “prioritising private schools over public schools”, amid revelations non-government schools are receiving four times as many taxpayer dollars as government ones.

NSW Education Minister Prue Car has blasted her federal Labor counterparts for “prioritising private schools over public schools”, challenging them to prove they’re any different to the Coalition amid revelations non-government schools are receiving four times as many taxpayer dollars as government ones.

Numbers crunched by the NSW Department of Education show private school receive about $24.9 million in federal government funding each, while public schools are sitting at $6.5 million each.

Ms Car told The Daily Telegraph the analysis proved the commonwealth could easily contribute more to the full funding of public schools.

State governments are majority funders of public schools but NSW is currently locked in a stoush with the Albanese government over a funding shortfall of 5 per cent.

NSW wants the Commonwealth to fund an additional 5 per cent of public schools, double their offer of an additional 2.5 per cent.

“This data shows the commonwealth can afford to lift its contribution, yet it continues to prioritise private schools over public schools and that doesn’t sit well with me,” she said.

The Education Minister urged the federal government to “come to the table with a fair offer”, because NSW school children “deserve nothing less”.

NSW Deputy Premier Prue Car gave her federal counterparts a spray over school funding in Question Time on Thursday. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“NSW has committed to lift its contribution to 75% two years ahead of schedule - we are asking the commonwealth to lift its share to just a quarter of public school funding, but they continue to quibble over small percentages,” she said.

In an extraordinary Question Time spray, Ms Car called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to “right the wrong” of the previous Coalition government, which she said “kneecapped” public school funding. The 20 per cent Commonwealth share was instituted by the Turnbull government.

“The Albanese government in Canberra has a chance, the opportunity to right that wrong once and for, to demonstrate that they are a different government ... and they believe in full and fair funding,” she said.

“This is deadly serious.”

It comes after confidential analysis obtained by The Daily Telegraph revealed overall funding provided to each sector in the May budget was $14.3bn for 2200 public schools over the next four years and $24.2bn for 970 independent schools.

Looking at funding allocated in 2022, two schools in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s own electorate of Grayndler had markedly different funding.

Students at public school Ashfield Boys got on average $4226 in Commonwealth dollars. At private school Trinity Grammar School, the average student got $5883 in Commonwealth funding.

Trinity Grammar School in Summer Hill.

Teachers Federation NSW President Henry Rajendra said the figures were “alarming but not surprising”.

“Amazing things happen in public schools everyday … but it’s getting harder and harder for our teachers to swim against the tide of underfunding,” he said.

“Anthony Albanese has a real opportunity to step up and make himself the education Prime Minister.

“He can give all children the opportunity to both make something of themselves and contribute to the nation.”

Bangor mum Marissa Parsons has three children in public schools: 15-year-old Phoebe, 12-year-old Daniel and 10-year-old Jared.

Ms Parsons said the funding disparity “goes against the concept of having a public education system”.

Marissa Parsons pictured in Bangor with her husband Joe and son Jared today. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“It’s a choice to put your kid in private school and that’s fine. But in my mind a private school student should get at most equal to a public school, but definitely not more,” she said.

“If you take your child out of the public system it should be your financial obligation, it shouldn’t be my financial obligation.”

Ms Parsons said the private schools in the area had vastly better facilities than her children’s public schools — funded by her taxpayer dollars.

“If I look at the schools around me, I live within walking distance of a private, catholic and public school,” she said.

“The facilities are insane compared to what my kids have

“If you want 100 grand for your kid to have a performing arts studio go for gold but if its being funded by me my kids should be able to access it.”

Education Minister Jason Clare said the government was in the process of negotiating school funding with the states and territories.

“I have put $16 billion in additional funding for public schools on the table, this includes an additional $4.1 billion for NSW public schools,” he said.

“This would be the biggest increase in Commonwealth funding to public schools that has ever been delivered.

“It will also cut in half the cost to the NSW Government of implementing their election commitment to fully fund public schools.”

Originally published as Private schools winning big over public institutions in federal funding