Federation Henry Rajendra and president of the P&C NSW Yvonne Hilsz regarding
prioritizing public education spending.
Local teachers, parents and interested members of the public were briefed last week about the lack of public school funding forthcoming from the Federal Government.
The NSW Federation of Parents and Citizens (P&C) Association and NSW Teachers Federation are working with parents, carers, teachers, principals, school support personnel and community members to get politicians to deliver full funding for public schools.
P&C groups around the state heard from NSW Teachers Federation president, Henry Rajendra and P&C of NSW president Yvonne Hilsz in organised meetings last week.
Mr Rajendra said NSW public schools have suffered a funding shortfall of $1.9 billion in the past year.
“Over the next four years, the Federal Government will provide $24.2 billion to the state’s 970 private schools, but only $14.3 billion to the 2,216 public schools,” Mr Rajendra told the meeting.
“Indeed, some NSW private schools will continue to receive over $6,000 more per student each year in government funding than public schools.”
He said the $1.9 billion shortfall could have increased the number of teachers across the state by 20 per cent.
“Just imagine a 20 per cent lift in the number of teachers that could have delivered smaller class sizes and broader curriculum, offering more one to one time for students with complex needs, and more time for teachers to plan and collaborate with each other.
“Indeed, it is a testament to you all that despite the funding shortfall, we continue to achieve great outcomes for our students,” Mr Rajendra said.
“While both levels of government [Federal and State] must meet their funding effort, it is the Federal Government that must accept a larger responsibility, owing to their greater capacity to raise revenue and their historic and shameful prioritisation of spending on private schools,” he said.
Mr Rajendra called for the Federal Government to remove a loophole that allowed the artificial inflation of the NSW Government funding share of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) by including costs not directly related to the learning needs of students such as capital depreciation and regulatory costs for NSW Public Schools.
“In 2023, this loophole equated to $640 million being included in the state’s overall SRS share thereby depriving the system of $640 million in additional funding directly linked to student learning,’ Mr Rajendra said.
building and maintenance program funding.
“The Federal Government’s main budget has revealed that private schools will get almost $1 billion in capital funding from the Federal Government over the next four years, while public schools will receive nothing.
“The answer to all this rests with the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and his Federal Labour colleagues.
“They have the financial capacity, should they choose to properly fund our public schools,” he said.
Ms Hilsz said she was proud to represent nearly 2,000 P&C associations across NSW.
“I’m proud to represent hundreds of thousands of parents, carers and community members who dedicate their time and energy to support public schools across the state,” Ms Hilsz said.
“These are people deeply committed to public education, people who believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive.
“However, I’m also here as a public school mum, one who is deeply concerned and frustrated that our children and schools are continually let down by underfunding from the Federal Government.
“We know that a strong public education system has a lasting positive impact on children, families and communities.
“As parents, we deeply value this system and are dedicated to seeing it flourish because we’ve witnessed how it can transform lives and create a better future for every child.
“I regularly hear from P&C associations about the challenges they face—parents and carers stepping in to fund resources for our kids from playground equipment, air conditioning, bubblers and upgrading toilets.
“Each year, P&Cs contribute millions to help our schools.
“It’s exhausting work for parents who shoulder this burden.
“And let’s face it, it’s a lot of sausage sizzles,” she said.
“Every school deserves support from the Australian Government.
“It is simply unfair and inequitable for Canberra to provide a higher level of funding for private schools and a lower level for public schools.
“Imagine what full funding would mean.
“More teachers, smaller classes, specialist support, enrichment activities, greater resources for regional, rural and remote schools, more music and sporting activities.
“And less need for us as parents to fundraise some of those costs,” Ms Hilsz said.
Local teachers and parents from Cobar Public School and Cobar High School discussed a number of funding cuts they had witnessed at both schools including the loss of support staff, cuts to the library program, and upgrade work that was cancelled.
“It’s not about people getting paid more money,” CPS teacher Amanda Fugar said.
“It’s not about teachers trying to get more things.
“It’s about improving the quality of education.”
