LIFELONG LEARNING NETWORK FUNDING REPORT

SCHOOL FUNDING OF THE TWO NATIONS:

THE HAVES AND THE HAVE-NOTS

A recent Discussion paper from the Lifelong Learning Network at the University of Canberra, has finally revealed the absurdity of the "poor parish school " myth.

The survey behind the research covered most non-government schools. Dr Louise Watson, who compiled the Report found that many private schools have incomes far in excess of government schools. Consider some of the following facts:

1.    27% of the private school students in the survey attend schools where the income from fees alone exceeds the average resources per student in government schools. Yet these same schools receive direct grants of $368 million to enable these schools to operate on average at resource levels 62% above government schools.

2.    Overall 55% of private school students attend schools where the total average resource level per student is higher than the average resources in government schools.

The AEU is to be congratulated for encouraging this research.

It puts paid to the claim that the Coalition government's SES funding model is "Needs based" in either intent or outcome.

The full report can be accessed at :

www.canberra.edu.au/lifelong/docs/operating-resources.pdf