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A new report into school capital works and infrastructure funding highlights the federal government’s failure to adequately fund Victorian public schools, says the Australian Education Union Victorian branch.

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.

New figures showing private school funding increasing at almost twice the rate of public school funding underline the urgent need for a fairer system where all public schools are fully funded. 

The data from the Productivity Commission shows public school funding increased by 20.3% (or 2% per year) in real terms between 2012-13 and 2021-22. Private school funding from governments increased over the same period by 37%. 

The PC’s Report on Government Services 2024 also shows private schools have fewer students per teacher than public schools. 

Victoria’s TAFE students are being short-changed by almost 20 per cent, compared to other states and territories, the latest Productivity Commission Report on Government Services (ROGS) shows.

The new data reveals that Victoria is again the lowest-funded state for vocational education and training (VET), paying just $17.19 per annual hour of VET delivery.

This is $3.67 less per annual hour of VET delivery than the national average of $20.86 and almost $3 behind the second lowest funded state of Queensland at $19.99 per annual hour of VET delivery.

The Australian Education Union welcomes the Albanese government’s introduction of legislation today to deal with unscrupulous VET providers, address deceptive conduct and restore integrity and confidence in Australia’s Vocational Education sector.

“These measures are long overdue and we commend the Minister For Skills and Training, Hon Brendan O’Connor, for acting on issues which everyone knows have plagued the VET sector for a very long time,” Correna Haythorpe, AEU Federal president said.

The Australian Education Union today called on all governments to commit to ending the underfunding of public schools as a matter of urgency saying the future of the teaching profession is at stake along with the quality of education delivered across the nation.

AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe welcomed news today that WA is going to be the first state to commit to fully funding public schools by 2026.

But Ms Haythorpe said there needed to be a bigger investment than the one proposed by the Commonwealth and the WA Government to achieve that goal.

The Australian Education Union Victorian Branch is urgently calling on both state and federal governments to stand up for students and educators in public schools in 2024 and fulfill their promises to deliver full funding for all public schools.

It has been revealed that bilateral agreements between Federal, State and Territory governments were signed without being publicly announced last year, extending them for the 2024 school year and effectively negating any increase to the Commonwealth’s share of Schooling Resource Funding until 2025.

Governments will make little or no progress towards ending the underfunding of public schools in 2024 despite being warned by their own Expert Panel that it is “urgent and critical” and the first step towards ensuring all students receive the support they need.

It has been revealed that extended bilateral agreements between the Albanese Government and each State and Territory government were signed without publicity in November and December.

An independent expert education panel has made clear to governments the full funding of public schools is “urgent and critical” and a precondition for improving results, equity and student wellbeing.

Education ministers meeting today in Sydney must make ending the underfunding of public schools their top priority so teachers can increase the support and opportunities students receive.

Australian Education Union Federal president Correna Haythorpe said the Albanese government should lead the way and contribute at least 25% of the funding required to bring every public school to the minimum standard.