Is Gonski goneski?

Further reports today that Schools Minister Peter Garrett is likely to shelve the Gonski Review raises many questions over what changes will end up being made and how they will impact on school fees and cost of living of parents.

“Labor’s ally the Australian Education Union head, Angelo Gavrielatos, has admitted that he is not expecting any new funding in the Federal budget, but insists changes should go ahead anyway,” said Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education.

“At the same time, the Victorian Independent Schools Council has confirmed the price tag for Gonski could be as high as $113 billion in additional spending over the life of the agreement,” Mr Pyne said.

“Without the additional spending, the Government cannot guarantee no school will lose a dollar in funding, nor guarantee indexation. As national independent schools chief, Bill Daniels said, ‘if there is no money, there is no model’,” he said.

“If the Gillard Government is going to take the advice of Mr Gavrielatos and implement recommendations without the additional funding, then non-government schools can expect to be the big losers.

“It will certainly mean higher school fees for parents and another hit on their cost of living.

“Mr Garrett has created this uncertainty – he now has to clearly annunciate the Government’s plans, not announce more working groups and committees in the hope the whole thing will go away.

“With only 18 months to go until the current funding agreement expires, schools simply do not know what to expect under Labor beyond 2013.

“Only the Coalition is offering certainty on school funding – the same quantum of funding and indexation maintained at current levels,” Mr Pyne said.

March 30, 2012