Labor secures path to implement Gonski public school funding vision
The federal government has negotiated a revised public school funding agreement with all states and territories.
A public school funding agreement has been struck that will see the federal government invest an extra $16.5 billion in education over the next decade.
The Commonwealth government will lift its contribution to public schools’ schooling resource standard (SRS) to 25% by 2034.
The uplift of an extra 5% on the existing 20% SRS contribution will apply to all jurisdictions except for the Northern Territory (NT).
NT public schools will receive a Commonwealth SRS contribution of 40% (up from 20%) by 2029.
Announcing the deal on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it represented the largest-ever new investment in public schools by the Commonwealth.
The PM said investing in the next generation was part of building the nation’s future. Every dollar would go towards children’s learning, he added.
“We know that education opens the doors of opportunity, and we want to widen them for every child in Australia,” Albanese said.
“This is about investing in real reform with real funding — so Australian children get the best possible education.”
The funding arrangements will mean that funding on eligible expenses will replace a previous provision that allowed the states and territories to claim 4% of SRS funding for so-called “indirect school costs” like capital depreciation.
The federal government has also flagged that the new deal is not a “blank cheque.” It includes five reforms, ranging from checking numeracy levels in the early years of schooling for grade 1 phonics to intensive support using evidence-based teaching methods for students who require catch-up tutoring and wellbeing for learning initiatives, including access to mental health professionals.
The agreement also articulates five key targets:
- Bringing year 12 Certificate achievement to the highest proportion it has ever reached by 2030;
- A 10% reduction by 2030 in the proportion of public school children deemed as “needing additional support” in the NAPLAN proficiency level for reading and numeracy;
- A 10% increase by 2030 in the proportion of public school children deemed as “strong” and “exceeding” proficiency for reading and numeracy;
- Bringing the national student attendance rate to 2019 levels (91.4%) by 2030; and
- Bringing the engagement of initial teacher education students to 69.7% by 2035.
Education Minister Jason Clare said the deal and every agreement with Australia’s states and territories put all public schools on the path to full and fair funding as envisaged by the Gonski review more than 10 years ago.
“This is an historic day for Australia’s education system — it will see, on average, a 70% increase in Commonwealth funding per student when this is fully implemented,” Clare said.
“This is real funding tied to real reform to get real results.”
READ MORE:
Public schools to be funded according to Gonski model for first time
