The ‘Gonski’ Review Rob Bray Principal Chairo Christian School
The ‘Gonski’ Review presents proposals for a new National School Funding Model. Information following draws on a variety of sources. These include: • The Australian Association of Christian Schools (AACS) • The Christian Education National (CEN) website • The National Policy Forum – Canberra – 21 and 22 May
Our Schools Exist Because Of‌
The original commitment of Christian parents to pursue a vision to see Christ-centred education available for their children.
Our Schools Survive Because Of… • the ongoing commitment of parents, • the leadership of Christian principals • the faithful teaching and modelling of Christian staff • the availability of federal and state government funding.
Our Schools Are:
• Overwhelmingly low-fee schools, • Receiving average contributions from governments of approximately 60% of our total costs. • Are all significantly dependent on those funds to survive.
But… • We cannot assume that this level of funding will always be available. • Many are fiercely opposed to our schools receiving any funding. • Others say we get too much. • Still others say that government schools don’t get enough. • There is always political pressure for non-government schools to be given less funding.
Some Argue…
‘If you choose to take your children away from government schools, then the costs should be on you too.’
So What Do Governments Think? • Some governments are more attracted to the idea of nongovernment schools getting less. • Others recognise that, because schooling is compulsory for all children (5 to 17), the funding available to non-government schools is an investment in the future of our nation in just the same way that it does in government schools.
Our Position?
• Our schools, like all others, contribute to the spiritual, moral, intellectual, innovative, social, economic .... capital of the nation. • Of course we should receive a fair proportion of the costs of educating our children from government.
But How Much?
• A complex question? Yes • But there are simple, core principles to guide us towards a just answer:
But How Much? • Parents have the prior right to determine the character of the influences to which their children are exposed in schools. • The state has a responsibility to determine the minimum standards and the core content that is needed for school students to enter the society equipped to be competent and constructive citizens.
But How Much?
• Parents have the right to choose the school they want for their children. • Our freedom of belief and our freedom of expression entitles our school communities to determine the framework within which the curriculum will be taught.
But How Much?
• Parents should be free to contribute whatever they choose by way of fees and gifts to the school of their choice without threatening the access that their chosen school has to basic entitlements common to all schools.
What is the ‘Gonski’ Report Proposing? • All public funding for government and non-government schools is to be pooled and the allocation of those funds determined by a new National Resource Standard Body (NRSB) under new National Education Agreements.
What is the ‘Gonski’ Report Proposing? • Funding for all schools would be benchmarked against a Schooling Resource Standard (SRS). • The SRS would determine the funding for all schools in all sectors. • Government schools would be 100% funded up to these standards.
What is the ‘Gonski’ Report Proposing? • Non-government special schools that exhibit high needs and have no capacity to raise fees would also be 100% funded. These would generally be schools for the disabled, indigenous schools and schools in extremely remote and disadvantaged communities.
What is the ‘Gonski’ Report Proposing? • Beyond standard recurrent funding, further funding would focus on disadvantage. A range of disadvantages would then be targeted by means of ‘loadings’ with even greater loadings for ‘concentrations’ of disadvantage (ie populations with the same disadvantage) and/or for students with multiple disadvantages.
What is the ‘Gonski’ Report Proposing? • Non-government schools (NGSs) would continue to be funded partly by government and partly from private sources – these ‘private sources’ are mainly derived from School fees paid by parents.
What is the ‘Gonski’ Report Proposing? • Funding would be indexed annually. • In total, the Gonski team anticipates that the proposals would cost approximately $5bn over and above current total funding. This constitutes a further .5% of GDP. It will not all be required at the start of 2014.
What is the ‘Gonski’ Report Proposing?
• Capital funding for government and non-government schools would be dealt with outside the recurrent funding arrangements.
Change is Challenging • What will the future hold? • Will we be able to afford our school in the future? • Change should not be resisted because its hard. • Our AACS schools must stand for a just funding outcome for all students and all schools. • That outcome is not a foregone conclusion when it comes to politics and government.
The ‘Gonski’ Review is Part of the ‘Change’ Process Facing All Schools Historical Background Regarding the ‘Gonski’ Report • Schools have been funded using the Socio-Economic Status (SES) Model for the past 11 years.
Historical Background Regarding the ‘Gonski’ Report • It is time for a review of school funding. • David Gonski headed up a team of seven independent high-profile Australians to undertake the Review. • Work commenced in 2010 and concluded in late 2011.
Historical Background Regarding the ‘Gonski’ Report • The recommendations contained in the Report were released for public comment on 20 February this year. • The Government has also provided a response to this Report.
Historical Background Regarding the ‘Gonski’ Report • There have been over 7,000 submissions to the committee including from Christian schools and AACS. • Submissions are still being provided.
Christian Schools – ‘National Policy Forum’ (May 2012) – Canberra Most recent updates re ‘Gonski’ Review Dr Ken Boston, the former Director-General of the NSW Department of Education and Training and one of the seven members on the Review panel:
Christian Schools – ‘National Policy Forum’ (May 2012) – Canberra • ‘Gonski’ Report has received fairly widespread ‘in-principle’ agreement. • Getting Federal and State Governments to agree on their funding commitments will be a major challenge.
Christian Schools – ‘National Policy Forum’ (May 2012) – Canberra • Further significant progress cannot be made until such agreement is reached. • A National Schools Resourcing Body (representative of all educational sectors) must be established as soon as possible.
Christian Schools – ‘National Policy Forum’ (May 2012) – Canberra
• This group would aim to reach agreement on specific key features of the proposed School Funding Model.
Comments from the Hon. Peter Garrett MP, Minister for Education National Policy Forum, May 2012
• Federal Government wishes to deal fairly with all educational sectors. • Proposed reforms in the ‘Gonski’ Review are focussed on students, not educational sectors.
Comments from the Hon. Peter Garrett MP, Minister for Education • Is premature to announce specific funding levels for schools at this stage. • Stressed that no school will lose funding as a result of the ‘Gonski’ Review.
Comments from the Hon. Peter Garrett MP, Minister for Education • Cross-sectoral teams are currently testing various ‘assumptions’ made in the ‘Gonski’ Review. • Federal Government is ‘committed’ to introducing legislation into the Federal Parliament re school funding before the end of 2012.
Comments from the Hon. Peter Garrett MP, Minister for Education • Reiterated that he is confident that it is still a realistic timeline for a new National School Funding Model to commence operating, January 2014.
Peter Garrett’s Concluding Statement Re ‘Gonski’ Review The ‘Gonski’ Review’s key objective is to ensure that every Australian child must receive the best educational opportunities available no matter what school they attend or what their personal/family circumstances are….
Peter Garrett’s Concluding Statement Re ‘Gonski’ Review … The ‘Gonski’ proposals are designed to specifically assist students facing educational challenges/disadvantages regardless of the schooling system that the student attends.
Comments From the Hon. Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education • The Coalition do not support a new national funding model for Australian schools as outlined in the ‘Gonski’ Review. • The current ‘SES’ Funding Model is not broken and proposes appropriate adjustments.
Comments From the Hon. Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education • Believes that the ‘Gonski’ Review proposals will not be adopted due to government funding constraints. • Concerned that various states and territories will not ‘sign on’ to this agreement.
‘Gonski’ Review – Likely Outcomes There are many factors that may affect the final outcome in relation to the proposed National School Funding Review. These include: • Whether State and Federal Governments can reach agreement in relation to funding commitments.
‘Gonski’ Review – Likely Outcomes
• Final agreement being reached between all educational sectors in relation to specific components of the Model. • The outcome of the next Federal Election which is currently scheduled for 2013.
Note: The Australian Association of Christian Schools (AACS) is confident that the vast majority of low-fee Christian schools have nothing to fear from the ‘Gonski’ funding recommendations. Chairo Christian School certainly comes under this category.
Where to From Here? What Can I Do?
• Some forums and consultations are continuing to occur. • You are encouraged to regularly visit the Christian Education National (CEN) website: schoolfunding.cen.edu.au
Where to From Here? What Can I Do?
• You can contact your local Federal and State members of parliament. • Talk generally (email, letter or meeting) with your local members about the high value that you place on Christian education.
Federal Member for McMillan
Russell Broadbent MHR russell.broadbent.mp@aph.gov.au
State Member for Narracan
Gary Blackwood MLA gary.blackwood@parliament.vic.gov.au
State Member for Bass
Ken Smith MLA ken.smith@parliament.vic.gov.au
Victorian Eastern Region Philip Davis MLC philip.davis@parliament.vic.gov.au
Hon. Peter Hall MLC peter.hall@parliament.vic.edu.au
Matt Viney MLC matthew.viney@parliament.vic.edu.au
Johan Scheffer MLC yohan.scheffer@parliament.vic.edu.au
Edward O'Donohue MLC edward.o'donohue@parliament.vic.edu.au
Senators
Hon. Kim Carr senator.carr@aph.gov.au
Hon. David Feeney senator.feeney@aph.gov.au
Mitch Fifield senator.fifield@aph.gov.au
Senators
Helen Kroger senator.kroger@aph.gov.au
Hon. Michael Ronaldson senator.ronaldson@aph.gov.au
Scott Ryan senator.ryan@aph.gov.au
Where to From Here? What Can I Do?
• Pray continually that our Government will uphold the rights of Christian parents to choose Christian education for their children.