Responding to a report from the Productivity Commission that found government funding for the state’s private and Catholic school students increased at a faster rate than for children enrolled in NSW public schools over the past decade, The Greens NSW, have again called for an end to handouts to wealthy private schools and all public funding to be directed to public schools in NSW.
The Productivity Commission report found federal and state money going to NSW non government schools grew by 27.2% over the 10 years to 2021 – leaping from $9683 to $12,313 per year.
“The Greens will always support 100% of education funding going to public schools,” Greens MP for Ballina and Education spokesperson said.
“We need a massive overhaul of how public money is being showered on private schools in NSW – it is obscene to see the kind of growth in funding to the private school sector, outlined in this Productivity Commission report, while public schools are going without proper facilities or staffing.
“It is no surprise to see just how badly the Liberal/ Coalition government, under an array of Premiers, have so clearly failed the education workforce and our kids being educated in public schools in NSW.
“We should have the best public education system in the world rather than this two tier system that dishes money out to wealthy schools whilst public schools struggle to fund even the basics for those kids.
“This government has also failed to produce a workforce strategy in their twelve, long years in government and have no idea how many teachers are even needed over the next decade – all the while splashing money on schools that need those funds the least,” Tamara said.
“Teachers have told us through direct action that “Thanks is not enough” to attract and retain the professional teaching force we need across public education in NSW.
“Thanks won’t fix teacher shortages – addressing pay and conditions will and that means more funding to public schools rather than wealthy, elite private schools across the state,” she said.
“The Gallop Inquiry led by teachers told us that we need a minimum extra 11,000 teachers in NSW over the next 10 years due to significant increase in student enrolments and teacher shortage will worsen.
“The Department of Education’s own research tells us that NSW public school teachers are overworked and underpaid and that is little wonder with such extensive misuse of government funding to schools that need those precious funds the most,” Tamara said.
