news
Counting the cost
Australia ’ s most expensive cities for schools revealed
Sydney parents can expect to fork out nearly half a million dollars to put their child through an independent school , at a cost 10 per cent higher than the national average , new data has found .
Research from the Futurity Investment Group Planning for Education Index ranked the total cost of education across Australia ’ s major cities in 2022 .
It found Sydney families will pay $ 100,000 more than the Australian average for 13 years of independent schooling , almost a quarter of a million more than a Perth family .
The average cost of a government education in Sydney was $ 92,375 , considerably more expensive than Brisbane ($ 74,988 ) and Melbourne ($ 88,906 ).
Sydney and Perth were found to be the most affordable cities for a Catholic education .
On average , Sydney families will pay $ 132,048 to send one child to a Catholic school .
Brisbane boasted the most expensive Catholic schooling in the country , with Queenslanders forecast to spend $ 158,199 over 13 years .
Over a third of Australia ’ s schools , 39 per cent , are also likely to increase their prices this year , the data found .
“ Education costs , including school fees , outside tuition , software and electronic devices are demanding a far greater share of the family budget than in the past ,” said Futurity Group executive Kate Hill .
“ COVID-19 has only exacerbated the financial challenge , with parents forking out hundreds of extra dollars on unplanned education related expenses at the height of the pandemic .”
The average Australian parent spent an extra $ 1,856 during COVID-19 lockdown last year , the survey data found .
According to the results , one in three parents who took unpaid or annual leave to teach their child at home earned much less compared to the previous year .
Over half of parents who went on leave reported earning $ 100,000 less than in 2020 . ■
Parental support
Parents could be called in to replace teachers .
Parents could be called in to help supervise children in the classroom under a bold new plan to help schools tackle COVID outbreaks .
Amid concerns of staff shortages , independent schools have been told they can ask parents to volunteer to supervise students in classrooms .
The briefing , by the Association of Independent Schools of NSW , warned principals up to 20 per cent of teachers at a single school could be off sick at once .
Chief executive Dr Jeff Newcomb said the association was also eyeing off retired teachers to help pitch in .
“ They ’ re anticipating anywhere between 15 to 20 per cent staff shortages . We would support retired teachers or new graduates who have their qualifications , getting accreditation , so they can assist ,” he told the ABC .
Non-teaching staff would be used to supervise children , but would not be permitted to teach the curriculum .
It could lead to a situation where a parent supervises the class in person while a teacher delivers a class remotely .
“ Even we could have parents in schools under a supervisory role where the teacher might be at home doing an online lesson if they have to isolate ,” Dr Newcomb said .
“ We ’ re not going to put an unqualified person in front of a class to teach maths . But I think we can use a cross-section of people to assist if this gets to the crisis stage .”
The association is also in talks to set up vaccination clinics inside the school gates .
“ Many of our schools are ready to go to set up a vaccination hub as we do with the flu vaccination ,” Newcomb told the ABC . ■
2 | educationreview . com . au