Report confirms Liberal support for public schools

The release of the Productivity Commission's "Report on Government Services" confirms the strong support given to public schools by the former Howard Government, according to Shadow Education Minister Christopher Pyne.

"Despite claims by the Education Union and part-time Education Minister Gillard that public schools were under-resourced by the previous government, the Productivity Commission report points out that 78.6% of all government funding for schools (in 2006-07) was directed towards public schools," said Mr Pyne.

Our government schools are educating 66% of our children, and receiving almost 79% of the funding. Parents who make the choice to send their children to Catholic or Independent schools are in fact saving the tax-payer billions of dollars, and these figures should give those politicians and union activists who delight in attacking the private school sector some reason to pause.

The other furphy going around is that the Rudd Government's minor increase in funds to public schools last year is the first public school funding increase by the Commonwealth in over a decade. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The fact is that between 1996 and 2007, the Coalition increased public school funding from the Commonwealth Government by 70% in real terms.

Investment in education is investment in our future prosperity. All of our children are important, whether they are attending public or private schools.

"It is well past time for the Labor Party to leave the politics of envy behind and to start directing its attention to improving education for all students, increasing choice for all parents, and providing the best possible pay, training and conditions for all teachers."