13/07/2023
Official figures have revealed Western Australian public schools are being underfunded by $31 million, with the shortfall rising to an incredible $374 million by the end of the decade.
State School Teachers’ Union of Western Australia President Matt Jarman said the alarming new figures showed a need for urgent action.
“These figures, from the Parliamentary Budget Office no less, show the crisis looming for public education in WA,” Mr Jarman said.
“We need the state and federal governments to get their collective acts together.
“It is unacceptable that public schools teach 66 per cent of secondary students and 72 per cent of primary students yet get well under the minimum funding they need.
“The national estimate is that proper funding would see extra $1800 for each pupil every year. The effect would be incredible for education outcomes, for the state’s economy and for issues in a huge range of areas that would benefit the community.
“Public schools in WA get just 95 per cent of the minimum funding they need. That figure becomes even worse when you realise a further four per cent in funding that used to be supplied separately, has now been rolled into one package – meaning schools are now getting only 91 per cent of the funding they need.
“Families of the 322,294 students enrolled in public education from kindy to year 12 should be beating down the door of their local MPs to insist they pressure both the state and federal governments to stop prevaricating and deliver full funding to public schools.
“Those children’s futures depend on it.”
