The Australian Education Union (AEU) has called on the federal government to increase its funding for public schools, saying it could allow every public school in Geelong to employ an average of nine more teachers and reduce class sizes by five students.
Figures released by the union last week estimated public schools across the Geelong region had received more than $60 million less than they should under the federal government’s school funding arrangements.
“Each year, every public school student in Geelong is missing out on $1971 because of the failure of the federal government to ensure that every school is funded to a minimum of 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS),” AEU federal president Correna Haythorpe said.
“This shocking figure should concern every Geelong parent and community member.
“It represents the funding shortfall for local public schools. Funding that could be used to employ additional teachers and support staff, and to provide the smaller class sizes and additional learning programs that every student deserves.”
The SRS is an estimate of how much public funding a school needs to meet its students’ educational needs, and is based on recommendations from the 2011 Review of Funding for Schooling.
This year it was set at $12,099 for each primary pupil and $15,204 for secondary students.
While public school funding is primarily done by state governments, the federal government has committed to providing at least 20 per cent of the SRS to all public schools by 2029.
AEU Victorian branch president Meredith Peace said there would be many benefits for public school students if the federal government “properly and fairly” funded Geelong public schools.
“With a minimum of 100 per cent of the SRS, public school students in Geelong would benefit from more support and greater individual attention,” she said.
“Additional funding would provide more specialist teachers, more professional development and additional time for teaching and learning for all schools.”
Ms Haythorpe said smaller class sizes and more teachers would allow for more individual support and “change a child’s life”.
“That’s why it is so important that every school has the resources needed to ensure every child has the greatest opportunity to reach their full potential,” she said.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the pre-existing inequities in education and continues to seriously impact on students, our members and the communities they serve.
“However, investment in public education would ameliorate that risk and deliver a strong foundation for our nation’s long-term recovery from COVID-19.”
Education and Youth Minister Alan Tudge said the government was increasing its school funding.
“We have doubled our government schools funding nationally since coming to office,” he said.
Mr Tudge said the federal government had invested $24.8 billion in schools this year, which would increase to $33 billion by 2029.
