AS THE Victorian Government decides whether it ‘gives a Gonski’, Swan Hill
educators say they would embrace any much-needed improvements to the region’s
schools.
The Federal Government is currently courting Victoria and other
states’ signatures on the National Education Reform Agreement, based on the
Gonski review, a radical transformation in how primary and secondary education
is funded.
The plan’s top aim is to provide a high quality and equitable
education for all Australian students through a consistent funding model.
Its
stated aims are to lift attainment of finishing certificates, close
disadvantages for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and place the country
in the top five for reading, maths and science by 2025.
To achieve this, the
Commonwealth would introduce new per student funding amounts, which are
$9,271.00 per primary school student and $12,193 per secondary school student,
plus additional loadings for disadvantaged students.
Those with poor
socio-economic status would receive between 15 and 50 per cent more per student;
Aboriginal students would receive about 20 per cent more; and students who have
low language proficiency would receive an extra 10 per cent.
The Gillard
government claims this formula would see the average Victorian state school
receive about $1.7 million more in funding each
year.
Swan Hill region lobbyist Glenn Stewart
said his modelling, while “a little rough”, showed Swan Hill College could be
$3.8m to $5.7m better off over six years, with more funding for more
disadvantaged areas such as Robinvale.
“The main thing is this ((plan)) looks
like it will provide additional capacity and flexibility at a local level for
the long-term.”
For more on this story, see Friday’s edition of The Guardian (24/5/13).
