State government’s record expenditure on private schools betrays Gonski commitment

The NSW Government is handing a record $6.1 billion dollars of public money to private schools over the next four years, with unprecedented capital gifts to the sector despite Gonski commitments.

Greens MP David Shoebridge said:

“Hidden among much needed increases in public school funding, is a massive increase in private school funding that is preventing NSW meeting its Gonski funding commitments to public schools.

“This budget sees another 7.5% increase in recurrent expenditure to private schools bringing state government spending to $1.4 billion in the 2019/20 budget. Private schools have now received a 15% funding increase from the NSW government in just the last two years.

“The record recurrent funding for private schools is matched by a record capital gift of funding of $500 million over the next four years.

“We know where this money goes, into new orchestra pits and elite sporting facilities at private schools like Knox and Kambala.

“This diversion of billions of dollars to private schools is the main reason the NSW government has again failed to meet its Gonski commitments in 2019/20.

“The NSW Government needs to meet at least 75% of the resource needs of public schools to enable them to meet minimum Gonski standards, but even with increased expenditure they will only meet 71% of this in 2019/20.

“Meanwhile this budget means the NSW government is providing more than 25% of the resource needs of private schools, when its long term commitment is to just 20% under the National Education Agreement.

“Even with the increased funding to public schools in this budget, the NSW government is still billions short in funding for public schools.

“It’s a disgrace that while public school students continue to suffer in demountable classrooms and hold outdoor assemblies because they don’t have a hall, that the State government has billions to give to private schools,” Mr Shoebridge said.