$7b sting in school deal

THE Commonwealth may need to find an extra $7 billion for public schools after the states were left fuming over a $4.6 billion peace deal offered to Catholic and independent educators.

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes will “very forcefully” argue for the extra state school funding over 10 years when he meets with his federal counterpart today.

“You can’t have some schools that are more equal than others,” Mr Stokes said yesterday. “We welcome the extra funding for independent and Catholic schools, but we need to make sure that a similar level of funding is provided proportionately to public schools as well.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has argued that Mr Stokes doesn’t understand the agreement and will warm to it once he realises how much more NSW schools will receive.

However Mr Stokes says he is the minister for all NSW schools – not some – and public cash must be spread evenly.

He is particularly concerned about an opaque $1.2 billion “choice and affordability” fund being offered to Catholic and independent schools to spend as they see fit.

The minister believes the funding directly undermines the key principles of the Gonski funding model, and says other state education ministers share his concerns about the deal.