11-November-2008
Goldstein Media Releases, Education and Training
Non-government schools in Bayside, which enrol over 10,000 students, face an uncertain future under changes the Rudd Labor Government is proposing to introduce into Parliament.
“The Labor Party has a long record of attacking funding for non-government schools and this is yet another example of this,” Andrew Robb MP, Federal Member for Goldstein said.
“The Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard however needs to appreciate that private schools are not typically wealthy schools. Hundreds of Catholic and other small independent schools are vital in offering hard working parents choice and alternative education streams so their children can get the education that is right for them.
“Under the Rudd Government’s proposed legislation, Julia Gillard will have the power to withhold or stop funding to these schools almost at a whim.
“Schools that offer different or alternative education streams such as Montessori, International Baccalaureate, special needs schools and Jewish schools such as Mount Scopus Memorial College will be in danger of losing their funding unless they amend their programs to fit into the national curriculum – a curriculum that hasn’t even been written yet.
“This Bill has the potential to severely compromise the ability of independent schools to specifically tailor their curriculum to suit the needs of both the parents and the students. This can only adversely affect the teaching quality. It also could result in lower government funding which would lead to higher fees,” Mr Robb said.
St. Leonard’s College in Brighton which offers an excellent International Baccalaureate programme would fall under this category. If this legislation passes without amendment, it is possible St. Leonard’s College’s funding could be withheld if it doesn’t conform to a rigid national curriculum.
“Additionally for the first time non-government schools will be forced to make available for publication all of their sources of funding, whether it be the takings from the school fete or even a chocolate raffle. This information is entirely superfluous to the non-government schools Federal funding, which is calculated based on the wealth of the parents of students.
“Why does the Federal Government need funding information that isn’t used to calculate how much money schools will get?
“Julia Gillard is already planning a review of how non-government schools are funded in 2010. Armed with all this information she wants to take non-government schools back to the days of Mark Latham and Labor’s Private Schools Hit List.
“The Federal Opposition will be seeking to amend several aspects of this Bill to protect Australian students, schools and parents, protecting their right to choice in education,” Mr Robb said.
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