AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR THE
DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
PRESS RELEASE 389
FINAL TERMS OF REFERENCE
OF REVIEW OF
FUNDING FOR SCHOOLING:
IGNORES THE
CONCEPT OF PUBLIC
EDUCATION
14 July 2010
On 15 April 2010, the former
Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, announced that a review of school
funding arrangements will commence in 2010 and conclude in 2011.
This is the first time
since 1973 that funding arrangements for all schools have been reviewed, but
the situation for public education is vastly different in 2010 than it was in
1973.
Differences between 1973
and 2010:
1. In 1973 78% of children were enrolled in
public schools. Four decades and billions of dollars of taxpayers money to
sectarian schools this is now less than 65%
2. In 1973 the Carmel Committee, in theory and
rhetoric at least, gave priority to public education. In 2010 no mention is
made of public education whatever. In Julia Gillard’s and Simon Crean’s world
the concept no longer exists. Their jargon avoids the issue of public v private
by talk of ‘educational outcomes’ and ‘funding systems’ which are ‘transparent, fair, financially sustainable
and effective’ DOGS believe that if
these words were to mean anything, then
taxpayer funding of private sectarian educational institutions would be
abandoned without delay.
3. In 1973 lip service was given to ‘equality of
educational opportunity’ and this ideal was the rationale for the provision
of taxpayer funding to cash strapped
sectarian schools. In 2010 no mention is made of this ideal. Nor is there any
mention made of the discredited ‘Needs’ policy. The only admission that gross
inequalities still exist and have indeed been exacerbated by taxpayer funding
of sectarian schools is contained in Terms of Reference 1. (b) namely: funding allocation mechanisms that
address current barriers to educational achievement
such as English language proficiency, indigeneity, location, disability and special needs, and other disadvantaged groups such as
low socio-economic areas and other concentrations of
disadvantage. DOGS believe that if these words were to mean anything then
taxpayer funding of private sectarian institutions would cease immediately.
4. In 1973 the Karmel Committee were
expected to legitimate the granting of taxpayer funding to cash strapped
sectarian schools, but the fragmenting of the Australian schooling and society
along sectarian lines was not admitted to be a major objective. In 2010
however, this has become a primary objective . For example Terms of Reference 4
(f) however, negatives any hope for a fair deal for public school funding in
Although DOGS consider the Review
loaded against public education, if only because of the background and
commitment of three out of the four members of the panel to the private
sectarian sector, they will be making a submission.
Angelo
Gavrielatos, the President of the Australian Education Union is encouraging public
school supporters to make a submission as follows:
For the first time since the 1970s we have
a chance to ask some fundamental questions: how do we ensure that all children
have the opportunity to fulfil
their potential and, as Prime Minister
Julia Gillard neatly put it, ensure that “demography is not destiny”?“
If we are serious about answering these
questions we need to look at ways to lift overall student performance while
simultaneously addressing
underachievement. This can only be done
with an education system that has at its heart strong, well resourced public
schools. After all, it is only public schools which guarantee every child a
place.
We must therefore reaffirm our commitment
to the fundamental right of all families and all children in this nation to
have access to a public school of the
highest
quality in their local community. That means sufficient qualified teachers and
staff to meet their needs and aspirations, access to a curriculum of breadth
and quality and a safe, modern, 21st century learning environment.
Any
interested person, can make a submission to the Secretariat at any
time. The Panel will also advise specific opportunities to contribute your
views as the review progresses. Feedback to the review Secretariat can be
made at: schoolsfundingreview@deewr.gov.au.
DOGS will be making a submission.
DEFEND
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND STOP STATE AID TO PRIVATE RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS.
Listen to the DOGS program
3CR, 855 on the A.M. dial
12 Noon Saturdays