The Australian Education Union Victorian Branch says the Federal Government’s 'take it or leave it' approach to Victorian public school funding puts the Prime Minister on the brink of a broken promise.
President Meredith Peace called on the Federal and Victorian Governments to resolve the funding agreement and provide the full funding required to ensure Victorian public school students have the resources to continue to receive a high quality education.
“In the lead up to the last federal election, the Prime Minister promised to ensure that every public school was on the pathway to 100% of funding to the Schooling Resource Standard.
“We are gravely concerned about the 'take it or leave it' approach of the Albanese Labor Government, which puts the Prime Minister on the brink of a broken promise.
“The deal on the table, of an additional 2.5% from the Commonwealth or a rollover of the current agreement with no additional funding, does not deliver this and could entrench inequality in a way that we have not seen since the federal Coalition government was in power.
“Resources delayed are resources denied,” Ms Peace said.
“Victorian public school staff and students should not be used as political pawns in a school funding spat between the Federal and Victorian Governments.
“Victorian public schools are currently among the lowest funded in the country and have now waited over a decade for the resources they need to continue delivering a high quality education for every child.
“Delivering full funding must be a joint commitment from both the Federal and State Governments, and right now, the offer from the Albanese Labor Government is not good enough. We support the Allan Government’s demand that the Commonwealth contribute a further 5% in addition to the existing 20% they already provide.
“It’s been more than a decade since a needs-based school funding model was established. Victorian public school students who are about to finish Year 12 are among the first cohort who were promised this funding but have not had the full benefits they were entitled to.
“Time is running out on this issue and school parents, principals, teachers and education support staff expect the Federal and Victorian Governments to work together to deliver full funding for Victorian public schools now.”
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31 July 2024