Schools funding cut fears

CONCERNS are mounting over the future of NT school funding with student enrolments falling suddenly across the Territory.

This year, student enrolment numbers for government and non-government schools are in decline throughout the Northern Territory.

Territory Education Minister Selena Uibo said her Department recorded a 2.5 per cent decline in enrolments since 2017.

“The change in student enrolment numbers is likely to be reflective of the population shift across the Northern Territory,” Ms Uibo said.

“The Federal Government provides funding on a per student rate, so declining enrolments will see less Commonwealth funding flow to the Northern Territory.”

A spokeswoman from the Department of Education said they anticipate this year’s enrolment numbers will decline further in 2019.

Figures show before this year, there had previously been a steady growth of stu- dents enrolment numbers across government schools, which saw 1159 more students enrolling in the NT over 2013 to 2017.

An email circulating among a group of concerned principals and teachers obtained by the NT News, reveals that many Northern Territory educators are worried about the impacts of “tighter” funding which declining enrolments could lead to.

“Ultimately, any drop in enrolment will impact on the funding pool,” one teacher said.

Ms Uibo said the NT had not signed up to the Federal Government funding deal, as she continued to negotiate with Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan.

She criticised their current deal proposal, saying it fails to address the high level of disadvantage in the Northern Territory and the higher costs to deliver education services in remote and very remote communities.

“Only the Territory Labor Government can be trusted to invest in education,” Ms Uibo said.