Labor is being coy about support for private schools

IN POLITICS, timing is everything. In the lead-up to the 2007 federal election, Kevin Rudd and his education spokesman Stephen Smith endorsed the Howard government’s non-government school funding model and promised, if elected, that no Catholic or independent school would be financially worse off.

But now, with a federal election due before the end of the year and the Rudd Government ahead in the polls, Education Minister Julia Gillard refuses to repeat the promise and to guarantee proper funding to non-government schools.

Twice in the past six months, on being asked whether non-government schools would be financially better or worse off as a result of the imminent review of the current funding model due to expire in 2012, Gillard has refused to answer.

On the most recent occasion, at a press conference at Gumdale State School last month – after being asked twice whether Catholic and independent schools would suffer financially as a result of this year’s review – she evaded the question.

Her refusal to say whether Catholic and independent school will be better or worse off as a result of the proposed review is understandable. In the lead-up to the 2007 federal election, the ALP, to win, had to appear conservative and attract the votes of non-government school parents.

This is no longer the case. Ahead in the polls, Labor no longer feels the need to assure non-government schools and parents that their interests will be protected.

While nowhere near as blunt as former Labor leader Mark Latham’s hit list of “wealthy private schools”, there is mounting evidence Gillard and traditional ALP supporters such as the Australian Education Union are keen to undermine the success and independence of non-government schools and to restrict their growth.

One way to weaken non-government schools – even though their enrolments increased in the 10 years to 2008 by 21.9 per cent, compared to a rise in government school enrolments of only 1.1per cent – is to reduce funding.

Gillard describes the present socio-economic status funding model as “one of the most complex, opaque and confusing in the developed world”. The teachers union regularly attacks it as inequitable and unfair.

Ignored is the fact, based on a Productivity Commission 2007-08 figures, that whereas total government funding to state school students is $12,639 a head, non-government schools receive only $6606 a student. So every student who attends a non-government school saves the taxpayer about $6000.

Read more

Residency lures foreign students

Almost a quarter of international students choose to study in Australia to become permanent residents, according to a survey which could heighten industry fears about the possible impact of recently announced changes to the skilled migration system.

The online survey of more than 1600 international students from more than 10 Australian universities shows that 24 per cent are studying overseas in the hope of gaining permanent residency, up from 5 per cent when the question was asked in a similar survey in 2005.

Read more

Kevin Rudd faces pressure over digital education revolution

THEY were called the toolbox of the 21st century by Kevin Rudd in the 2007 election campaign as Labor launched its $1 billion digital education revolution.

Two and a half years on, students have been lumbered with “glorified typewriters” as the Government drags the chain on high-speed internet access in high schools.

Yesterday it was confirmed none of the $100 million budgeted to bring high-speed broadband to schools had been spent after more than two years of Labor in power.

Read more

Most promising new teachers to be recognised in 2010 Education Awards

Education Minister Liz Constable today announced that the most promising new teachers would be recognised with a new category in the 2010 Education Awards.

Dr Constable made the announcement at this year’s official welcome day for new public school teachers.

“The WA Beginning Teacher of the Year award is designed to recognise new teachers who make a distinct personal contribution to improved student engagement, achievement or well-being,” she said.

Read more