New data shows inequitable funding is leaving Australia’s public schools behind, underscoring the need for full bipartisan support.
To coincide with its Annual Federal Conference in Melbourne last Friday, the Australian Education Union (AEU) released data from the ACARA 2023 School Finance dataset which the union says highlights growing disadvantage in Australia’s schools.
According to the data, private schools receive 27% more recurrent income per student compared to public schools, despite enrolling a lower proportion of students with additional needs.
The report also highlighted the capital expenditure gap, showing that in 2023, private schools spent $5.4bn more on infrastructure than public schools. In private schools, capital expenditure was 2.1 times that of public schools, up from 1.5 times in 2021.
“Public schools educate the vast majority of Australian students, including more students who face educational disadvantage, yet they are significantly underfunded,” AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said.
“This shortfall in funding to public schools means they are denied the vital resources that they need to deliver high quality teaching and learning programs. Public schools are lagging behind both in recurrent income per student and in money spent on school infrastructure, creating deep inequity and a two-tiered system.”
To address this, the Albanese Government has committed to increasing the Commonwealth share of the SRS to a minimum of 25%, and there is growing pressure on state governments to put in a full 75% so that all public schools are funded to 100% of the School Resourcing Standard (SRS).
The union is also calling for a bipartisan commitment to increase capital funding for public schools.
“Currently private schools are due to get $1bn from the Commonwealth over the next 4 years while public schools will get nothing,” Haythorpe said. “With an imminent federal election, there must be bi-partisan support for full funding of public schools.”
“The Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton has so far refused to commit to full funding of public schools and matching the current Government’s commitment to lift the Commonwealth’s share to a minimum 25% of the SRS.”
A turning point?
Speaking at the AEU Federal Conference, Education Minister Jason Clare noted recent progress that has been made on school funding in Australia.
“We’ve doubled what we’re offering the states. We will fund the full 5 per cent. What you’ve always asked for,” Claire told the conference.
“In return, we want the states to get rid of the 4 per cent that is spent on things like capital depreciation – what you have also been calling for. That’s a big shift.”
Andy Mison, President of the Australian Secondary Principals Association, is calling for a common and fair regulatory and funding framework for all schools.
“While we’re getting closer on funding, different sectors still operate under different rules,” Mison told The Educator.
“Public schools take everyone, which means they serve most Indigenous students, students with disabilities, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.”
In contrast, says Mison, Catholic and independent sectors can choose their students and aren’t regulated regarding fees, despite receiving significant public funding.
“We’ve got different sets of rules for different sectors. We would argue that public funding should be available to support every child, but we believe that should come with a commensurate and fair set of obligations.”
The Greens accuse Labor and the Coalition of underfunding public schools and have pledged to abolish public school fees and charges to help families who are struggling with the cost of living crisis.
“In Australia, one in three big corporations pays no tax. $0 tax. Meanwhile, public school parents are now paying over $1.2bn in public school fees each year, or $465 per public school child,” The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, said at the AEU Federal Conference.
The Greens have pledged an additional $2.4bn in funding over forward estimates to cover the shortfall.
“Our mission is to make the billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share, so everyone can get the education they need.”