in the classroom
Picture : Seb Hagget / NCA NewsWire .
Fair funding
Ministers pledge to fund NSW public schools at 100 per cent .
By Emilie Lauer
Education ministers in NSW have committed to giving public schools 100 per cent of the minimum funding required to meet students ’ educational needs .
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare and NSW Education Minister Prue Car signed an agreement at the NSW Teachers Federation conference , formalising the election pledge to fund public schools fairly .
Both federal and state ministers agreed to ensure every NSW public school will reach 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard .
The Schooling Resource Standard ( SRS ) helps estimate how much public funding a school requires for each student .
Currently , NSW public schools receive about 92 per cent of funding per student compared to 90 per cent for the national average , a McKell Institute analysis showed .
On average , public schools receive about 20 per cent of funding from the federal government and up to 75 per cent from the states .
Education was a key issue during Minns election campaign , which included a pledge to establish a $ 400m education fund .
Minns said he would help NSW public schools reach 95 per cent of its schooling resource standard by 2025 and fill the extra 5 per cent gap for states ’ schools if the federal government cannot provide the fund .
Federal education minister Jason Clare said the funding would also help bridge the gap between students from low socioeconomic backgrounds and their more advantaged counterparts .
“ We have the best education system in the world , but not for everyone ,” Mr Clare said .
A recent report from the Productivity Commission showed school completion rates fell from 76 per cent to 74 per cent for low socioeconomic schools from 2017 to 2021 .
By comparison , schools in wealthier areas saw Year 12 completion rates from 83 to 85 per cent within the same years .
Minister Clare said he would ask the Expert Panel , part of the next National School Reform Agreement , to determine how funding can be used to make a “ real difference ”.
The National School Reform Agreement expert panel formed by former public service chief Dr Lisa O ’ Brien will advise the
We have the best education system in the world , but not for everyone .
federal government on actions to overhaul the nation ’ s school funding system .
Mr Clare said the panel would visit schools and survey teachers and principals in the coming months to inform their recommendations .
Principal of Sydney ’ s Burwood Girls high school Mia Kumar wrote on Twitter she was “ pleased to witness the change in commitment to public education ”.
“ Principal ’ s conference NSWTF was a historic event . Commitments made by Jason Clare and Prue Car were met by standing ovation by principals ,” Ms Kumar said .
Secondary school leader Lisa Edwards said she got “ emotional ” following the announcement .
“ I admit I shed a tear or two listening to [ the ministers ] speak to NSWTF principals about moving forward together for our students in public education ,” they said . ■
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