[Greens-Media] Private school funding mess exposes Howard government failure

[Lee Rhiannon]

Private school funding mess exposes Howard government failure

The Howard government's claims to be funding private schools on the
basis of the economic status of their students are falling apart,
according to Greens NSW Education Spokesperson and Upper House
candidate John Kaye.

Commenting on the large number of wealthy private schools that are now
protected from the Socio Economic Status (SES) funding system under
the 'Funding Maintained' and 'Funding Guaranteed' rules, Dr Kaye said:
"The rational for the Howard government's funding of private schools
is in tatters.

"If Education Minister Bishop really believed in her Socio Economic
Status (SES) funding system, she would be happy to expose all private
schools to the formula, not just those that benefit from it.

"The Howard government only believes in SES funding where it increases
the money flowing to private schools. Where it would take money away,
the Minister loses her confidence and resorts to historical funding
levels.

"Yet again the Howard government has shown that its SES formula is
really about delivering more money to private schools. It never had
anything to do with fairness or rigour.

"When the current funding scheme was set up the wealthy private school
lobby flexed its muscles. They were happy to collect the windfall
gains provided by the SES formula but they worked hard to protect
their institutions from any losses.

"The Howard government was happy to oblige them by distorting their
own funding system.

"Scots College continues to receive $2.6 million a year under this
scheme even though the funding formula would have them receiving
substantially less.

"The $2 billion that these over-funded private schools are keeping
belongs in public education, not in the coffers of schools that are
already very wealthy," Dr Kaye said.

For more information:	John Kaye 0407 195 455