Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said the Coalition Government’s new plan for schools would mean a better targeted funding and evidence-based program for local students.
Mr Coulton said the Government will grow education funding by an additional $18.6 billion for Australia’s schools over the next decade, starting from 2018.
“We’re delivering the real needs-based funding model that Labor didn’t,” he said.
Mr Coulton said Commonwealth funding for students in regional and remote Australia will grow from $3.9 billion in 2017 to $7.2 billion in 2027 — this is an increase of 84 per cent. On average over that period, per student funding for students in regional areas will grow by 5 per cent per year.
Funding for government schools in NSW will rise 83 per cent from $2,186 million in 2017 to $4,003 million in 2027 which equates to $31,038 million over the ten-year period. Non-government school funding will rise 56.6 per cent from $3,306 million in 2017 to $5,179 million in 2027 – a 10-year total of $42,821 million.
“While we know a strong level of funding for schools is vital, what’s more important is how that funding is used.
“David Gonski will lead a new inquiry into improving the results of Australian students focused on the most effective teaching and learning strategies to reverse declining results, and seek to raise the performance of schools and students.
“Our reforms will set our schools up for the future, and deliver fair, needs-based funding for all Australian students.”
Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the Coalition Government’s plan would transform Australian schools.
“Our plan will set students on the path to academic excellence and achieve real needs-based funding for students from all backgrounds, in every town and city, in every region and state, in every classroom,” Minister Birmingham said.
“Our changes will ensure all schools and states transition to an equal Commonwealth share of the resource standard in a decade, unlike the 150 years of inequity that current arrangements would entail.
“We’ll ensure schools are funded fairly. That means 24 schools in the nation’s highest socio-economic areas will receive a reduction in per-student funding over the next ten years and for the first time using the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data for Commonwealth funding decisions on students with a disability. This will ensure that need drives funding allocation, and end the different definitions of disability that exist between jurisdictions.”
Further details of the Coalition Government’s Quality Schools’ reform package are available at: www.education.gov.au/qualityschools