Return to hit list as Government back pedals on Gonski

Reports today that Schools Minister Peter Garrett is back pedalling away from the $113 billion in new spending needed to implement the Gonski review reveals a duplicitous Government hiding its true agenda for non-government schools.

“The head of the Independent Schools Council, Bill Daniels said if there is no money there is no model. Without the additional spending, the Government cannot guarantee that no school will lose a dollar in funding, nor guarantee indexation,” Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education said today.

“What we are seeing is the first clear indication that the Gillard Government is either going to shelve the Gonski review entirely or cherry-pick recommendations without the additional funding,” Mr Pyne said.

“The Coalition believes this will result in cuts for non-government schools and higher school fees for parents,” he said.

“It’s time parents, teachers and principals found out precisely what this Government plans to do – not hear more empty rhetoric about dramatic change without any commitment or detail.

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

March 29, 2012