FUNDING TRANSPARENCY AND CERTAINTY A MUST FOR GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Principals have slammed short-sighted federal funding decisions and urgently called for the government to offer a clear strategy for the long-term resourcing of government primary schools.
The Australian Government Primary Principal Association (AGPPA), meeting recently in Melbourne, have asserted that the government must document their plans to address Australia’s under-funded education sector.
“Short-sighted politics that are high on rhetoric and low on vision are preventing the opportunity to build a world-class education system for all students. Our children deserve a better deal,” said AGPPA President, Gabrielle Leigh.
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“Financial insecurity hinders the ability of principals to create and implement successful long term goals for their school.”
“Certainty of funding over the next five years is an imperative to drive school improvement and improved student outcomes. Schools need clarity and transparency to plan for the future.”
Recommendations provided by the Gonski funding model have been celebrated by AGPPA as providing a fair and visionary approach to tackling the link between economic disadvantage and low achievement present in the schooling system.
“The full Gonski funding model offers high quality education for all children regardless of their circumstances. Sector-blind and equitable resourcing enables schools to provide the best possible learning environment.
“Resourcing of schools must include needs based funding for students with disabilities, socio-economic disadvantage, indigenous remote and isolated and students where English is a second language.
“AGPPA strongly agrees with the Gonski statement that funding must ensure that differences in educational outcomes are not the result of differences in wealth, income, power or possession,” said Ms Leigh.
The Gonski model also offers appropriate support for Australia’s youngest students who have recently experienced recent cuts to funding.
“The uncertainty in funding for prior to school aged students is a real concern, as these early years are critical to a child’s success. The return on investment by early intervention is clear, as articulated in Professor James Heckman’s research1,” said Ms Leigh. 1 James J. Heckman, University of Chicago. Return on Investment: Cost vs. Benefit. Accessed online at http://childandfamilypolicy.duke.edu/pdfs/10yranniversary_Heckmanhandout.pdf
“The full Gonski model provides a practical and clear strategy for high quality education into the future. AGPPA implores the government to urgently address how it plans to ensure all Australian students, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to achieve the highest possible learning standards,” said Ms Leigh.