Call for extra funding to cut misbehaviour

MORE Federal Government funding could be the key to stopping students from misbehaving and having to be removed from school.

The Queensland Teachers’ Union urged Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to reverse the “$1.9 billion cut in public school funding” so principals could hire more guidance counsellors to help children and young people with behavioural issues.

The Federal Government provides 20 per cent of state school funding and 80 per cent of funding for private schools, QTU Cairns representative Maureen Duffy said.

“Students with behavioural issues often have very complex needs,” Ms Duffy said.

“They deserve individualised attention from professionals including guidance officers and other education support staff to help keep them on track to improve and succeed.”

Mr Birmingham said there was sufficient federal money flowing into state schools.

“This means there’s no reason schools won’t be able to continue to support teachers and new or existing initiatives, such as specialist teachers or targeted intervention programs,” he said.

“Also, following a recent review into how to ensure our record and growing investment in schools is used as effectively as possible, we will work with the states and territories and school systems to ensure schools and teachers are armed with the most effective and evidence-based methods and reforms to help deliver better outcomes for Australian students.”

STUDENTS WITH BEHAVIOURAL ISSUES OFTEN HAVE VERY COMPLEX NEEDS. THEY DESERVE INDIVIDUALISED ATTENTION FROM PROFESSIONALS INCLUDING GUIDANCE OFFICERS