$617 million to be stripped from schools

School fees in 1,075 schools will go up if the reported funding cut to 'funding maintained' non-government schools occurs, Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education said today.

"Peter Garrett's school hit list has 1,075 non-government schools in the cross-hairs which are predominantly smaller Catholic and Independent schools, some in rural and regional areas, many that are already struggling," Mr Pyne said.

"These schools stand to lose around $617 million in funding per year if 'funding maintained' provisions are scrapped, or an average of $580,000 per school each year. It will fall to parents to make up this funding shortfall as they will be slugged with higher school fees," he said.

Far from being bastions of privilege, most of these 'funding maintained' schools cater to lower and middle income families who scrimp and save so their children can receive an independent education.

The impact of this will be felt far and wide at a time when cost of living increases are already squeezing family budgets.

Funding maintained provisions were put in place by the previous Government to ensure no school would be worse off under the new SES funding system. This is an eminently sensible policy that the Coalition has vowed to continue.

Funding maintained provisions have been in place for more than a decade and schools are relying on their current funding levels to continue in real terms.

1,075 non-government schools represent close to half of all non-government schools, and educate hundreds of thousands of primary and secondary students.

"If Peter Garrett wants to place further pressure on Australian families' cost of living by cutting funding to the non-government school sector, the Coalition will fight him every step of the way," Mr Pyne said.

April 27, 2011

Media Contact:

Adam Howard

0400 414 833