As predicted last week, the Morrison Government’s pork barrelling of Catholic and independent schools has led to similar funding demands from state schools. From SBS News:
The Commonwealth may need to find an extra $7 billion for state schools to secure support for a $4.6 billion peace deal offered to Catholic and independent educators.
NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes will “forcefully argue” for the extra state school funding to be spread across the country over 10 years when he meets with his federal counterpart on Friday.
“You can’t have some schools that are more equal than others,” Mr Stokes told ABC radio on Thursday.
Needs-based funding necessarily means that some schools will receive more funding and some will receive less. The Gonski 2.0 schools was meant to redirect some funding from privileged Catholic and independent schools to state schools, improving equity and saving the Budget billions in the process.
Instead, we now have another politically expedient ‘special deal’ for the Catholic and independent schools, resulting in similar demands from the state schools sector to even up the playing field.
History never repeats but it sure does rhyme. Needs-based funding was a nice idea, but looks to be dead. Back to square one.
