[Greens-Media] Rees must reject Rudd's Howard era funding formula

[John Kaye]

Rees must reject Rudd's Howard era funding formula
 
NSW Premier Nathan Rees must publicly pressure Kevin Rudd to stop
massive increases in funding to private schools after figures show
federal government spending growing by 32 per cent, according to Greens
NSW MP John Kaye.
 
Commenting on a story in today's Sydney Morning Herald ('Rudd’s $26b
funding gift to private schools' page 1, Monday 24 August), Dr Kaye
said: "Nathan Rees must publicly reject the Rudd government giving John
Howard’s education agenda another four years of life.
 
"By continuing the Coalition’s private school funding formula, Labor
has perpetuated the same inequities and the same damage to public
schools.
 
"The massive increase in funding was given to private schools without
any account for the growing wealth of the sector from rising fees and
donations.
 
"Schools like Trinity Grammar, King's, Newington, Moriah and St
Andrew's Cathedral School are each receiving an increase of more than
$2.5 million in their funding for the current four year period.
 
"The spectacular growth in federal funding to exceptionally wealthy
private schools is an insult to the teachers and students in public
schools in NSW who are forced to operate on tightly constrained
budgets.
 
"By failing to defend public education Nathan Rees is implicitly
perpetuating John Howard’s funding formulas. 
 
"Nathan Rees, and NSW Education Minister Verity Firth must make funding
of public education a priority over continued largesse to exclusive
private schools.
 
"Our research also showed that John Howard's funding formula continues
to support the growth of low-fee religious schools that directly compete
with public schools," Dr Kaye said. 
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
The SMH story can be found at
http://www.smh.com.au/national/rudds-26b-funding-gift-to-private-schools-20090823-ev4p.html