Pyne’s Independent Public Schools farce finally reaches its conclusion.
Education Minister Christopher Pyne now has a chance to move on from his failed Independent Public Schools policy and do something which will actually benefit public schools, after WA became the final State to sign up to IPS, the AEU said today.
AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said Minister Pyne’s $70 million IPS program was a waste of money which had been rejected by the majority of States.
"This program has been an expensive distraction from the Abbott Government’s failure to honour the full six-years of the Gonski agreements, and one which will do nothing to improve outcomes in public schools," Ms Haythorpe said.
"It is no replacement for the estimated $2.7 billion which will be cut from public schools if the last two years of the Gonski agreements are not fully funded.
"Independent Public Schools have been rejected by most States and Territories because they recognise there is no evidence that introducing a two-tier public school system will lead to better results for students.
"NSW, Victoria, SA, Tasmania and the ACT have all accepted money from the IPS fund but will not create a single Independent Public School.
"These States should be commended for standing firm and rejecting a policy that has no evidence to back
