Private fees set to jump

Catholic schools blame funding changes

SCHOOL fees are set to jump at a number of Catholic and independent schools across Geelong, with some schools attributing the hike to federal funding changes.

School fees at St Joseph’s College, Sacred Heart College, Kardinia International College and Saint Ignatius College will rise, some by as much as 4 per cent.

In a letter to parents, Sacred Heart College principal Anna Negro said a significant reduction in Federal Government funding was the key driver in the college’s decision to cut its expenses by 10 per cent.

The school has increased its fees, moving to a “global” fee structure which it says will simplify the fee process.

Fees for Year 7 students have gone up by $1200 to $6575, while year 12 fees have increased by $125 to $7075.

“The new (federal) legis- lation will significantly impact the Catholic Education sector, due to changes in the way government funding is now calculated,” the letter read.

“To address this loss in funding, the college has embarked on a planned approach to implement efficiencies that will reduce recurrent expenditure by 10 per cent.”

St Joseph’s College principal Tony Paatsch said the school usually relied on annual increases in government funding to enable it to meet the increasing costs of education.

“In 2018, the college will receive the same level of funding per student as in 2017,” Mr Paatsch said.

“Prior to the changes in the Federal Government funding model, we were expecting a funding increase in the order of 3 per cent.

“We will not be reducing any of our educational offerings in 2018 and our fees will increase by 4 per cent.”

Saint Ignatius College fees will increase by 4 per cent next year, while Kardinia International College fees will rise by 4.5 per cent.

Principal David Fitzgerald said the college’s fees were not linked to federal funding cuts.

Catholic Education Melbourne executive director Stephen Elder said the Federal Government’s new funding level had cut the amount of funding attracted by 196 Catholic schools in Victoria in 2018.

Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Michelle Green said its schools “take into account a complex range of factors”, not just government funding, when setting fees.

But a spokesman for Education Minister Simon Birmingham said a review next year “will ensure robust methodology for fair funding of all non-government schools”.

Geelong College. Clonard College, Geelong Grammar and Geelong Lutheran College said 2018 school fee schedules were not publicly available at this stage.