Greens want NSW funding out of wealthiest private schools
The Greens today announced their plans to take away the state funding of the 64 wealthiest private schools in NSW and put the money into public education. Greens Upper House candidate and Education Spokesperson John Kaye released a list of these schools, together with the state and federal funding they receive.
Dr Kaye said: “Each year, these 64 schools receive $59.6 million from the state government in addition to $119.7 million from the Commonwealth. Kings received $5.3 million and Pymble Ladies College $5.8 million.
“This is scarce public money squandered on schools that are already exceptionally well resourced. It not only creates divisions within society but it also takes resources away from public education.
“Unlike Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd, the Greens do not shy away from the debate about funding the wealthiest private schools. This is not the politics of envy. It is the politics of equity and securing quality education for all children.
“The Carr/Iemma Government has also lacked the courage to take on this issue. In 2001 the Greens introduced legislation into the NSW Parliament to stop the funding of these very wealthy private schools. Labor failed to support it and has allowed the funding of these schools to continue to increase.
“The NSW government has failed to take into account the massive increases in the Commonwealth funding of all other private schools since the NSW government came to power. Since Labor came to power in NSW it has increased its annual funding by $189 million while the Howard government upped funding by $718 million,” Dr Kaye said.
The Greens education funding policy would:
· end the state funding of the 64 wealthiest private schools and increase the funding of public schools serving disadvantaged communities by $60 million per annum; and
· adjust State funding of all other private schools to guarantee them total public funding at 2003 levels, adjusted for inflation, thus freeing up $350 million per annum for public education.
