Students in lousy deal on funding
QUEENSLAND students lost out on $ 95 each in federal funding in four years from 2009, while cash for kids in Catholic and independent schools increased.
Federal funding fell by almost $ 100 for Queensland students from 2009 to 2013, according to the latest figures provided to Senate Estimates by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, adjusting for inflation, with Queensland hit by the worst funding losses across the country.
Funding from the state increased by $ 184 per student in the same four years, according to Save Our Schools analysis.
State Education Minister Kate Jones said she was concerned Queensland schools would lose a further $ 6 billion from the most recent federal budget.
“Those cuts will rip money from classrooms in public, Catholic and independent schools across our state. It means resources will be stretched and programs may be cut,” she said.
“Queensland schools across all sectors deserve better, that’s why I’m continuing to lobby the Federal Government to reverse these cuts.”
But a spokesman for Federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne argued it was a funding failure from Labor.
“Bill Shorten failed to deliver new national funding arrangements, he failed to reach agreement with Queensland and he ripped $ 794 million out of Queensland schools before the last election,” the spokesman said.