14/07/2023
The Albanese Government must make the investments required in WA public schools to allow principals and teachers to cut class sizes and provide more individual attention and support for every child.
New analysis conducted by the Parliamentary Budget Office shows that the Commonwealth needs to invest an average $203 million each year to lift their share of funding for public schools in WA from 20 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) to 25 per cent by 2028.
“Right now, 98 per cent of public schools are not funded to the standard set by the SRS, the minimum amount all Australian governments have agreed is required to meet the needs of all students,” said Australian Education Union Federal President Correna Haythorpe.
“The Albanese Government needs to lift the Federal Government investment in public schools to 25 per cent and negotiate agreements with state and territory governments that will ensure every public school is funded to a minimum of 100 per cent of the SRS by 2028.”
State School Teachers’ Union of Western Australia President, Matthew Jarman said the funding would change lives and lift results.
“This is about our students, and making sure they get the opportunity to reach to their full potential.
“With full and fair funding, our principals can employ more teachers and reduce class sizes. We can recruit more education support staff and give teachers the time and support they need to offer students greater individual attention.
“We can bring more allied health professionals into schools, like counsellors and speech therapists, taking the pressure off families and giving the students that need it that extra boost,” Mr Jarman said.
Ms Haythorpe said public schools in WA were only funded to 95 per cent of the SRS.
“But with an average additional $203 million in Federal funding each year, the Albanese Government can end this underfunding, change the lives of WA public school students,” Ms Haythorpe said.
