INCREASED PRESSURE ON PM TO DELIVER FULL FUNDING OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The union movement is calling for the Albanese Government to increase its funding offer to states and territories and ensure full funding of public schools is delivered by 2028.

The ACTU executive passed a resolution today saying fully funding public schools is a nation-building investment that will not only improve the education of children across the country but deliver long-term social and economic benefits that far outweigh the cost.

The resolution calls on the Prime Minister to commit to providing a minimum of 25% of the funding required to bring public schools to the Schooling Resource Standard – up from the 22.5% currently being offered by the Albanese Government to states and territories.

Only 1.3% of public schools are resourced at 100% of the SRS – which is the minimum level governments have agreed they require to meet the needs of their students.

AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said there was now overwhelming support for full funding with the union movement joining parents, principals, teachers and a wide range of community and charity groups in calling for the investment. Five states and the ACT are also calling for the Albanese Government to contribute 25% of the SRS.

“The future funding of every public school will be determined this year and the agreements struck by the Albanese Government with states and territories must end the underfunding of public schools once and for all,” she said.

“The Prime Minister has promised to deliver full funding and he needs to put in a fair share of that investment to ensure every public school is fully funded by 2028.

“The ACTU resolution is also clear in saying that clauses inserted into the current funding agreements which allow states to artificially inflate their share of school funding by 4% must be removed, as Labor promised before the last election.

“Public schools need full, not fake funding. The challenges are too great and the cost of failure too high for governments to continue to fail on funding.

“We have a teacher shortage crisis, a serious decline in student wellbeing and mental health and widening achievement gaps between students from different backgrounds and locations. Student needs are more complex and diverse and 1 in 5 children are behind where they need to be when they start school.

“With full funding principals and teachers in public schools can change lives. Full funding means well-resourced and well-staffed schools. It means more teachers, more support staff and more intensive support for the students who need it inside and outside the classroom.”

MEDIA CONTACT:

Melissa van der Haak, 0484 674 958