CATH NEWS REPORT: Victoria's Labor Government has promised a 40 percent increase in funding for Catholic and independent schools, if re-elected, The Age reports.
Catholic and independent schools welcomed the historic funding boost, which would see a future Labor government increase funding to $711 million by 2014, but the Australian Education Union said it was surprising as it pre-empted the outcome of a federal review into private school funding.
Under the promised $199.7 million boost, private school students would receive 25 per cent of the cost of educating a student at a public school from the state government. Teachers from needy non-government schools would also receive $5 million for professional development.
Mr Brumby said Labor would deliver independent and Catholic schools three times the level of funding they received when the ALP came to office. ''This provides a guaranteed funding stream as Labor will establish an ongoing 25 percent linkage for Catholic and independent schools,'' he said.
Victorian Independent Education Union general secretary Debra James said the funding commitment put Victoria on par with other states.
''Over a third of Victorian students attend non-government schools, many that operate on the smell of an oily rag,'' she said.
Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Michelle Green was also pleased, but said even with the proposed extra funding, private schools would receive less government support than state schools.
Catholic Education director Stephen Elder said the decision would be welcomed by Catholic schools, which served some of the state's most disadvantaged areas. http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=24141
Catholic and independent schools welcomed the historic funding boost, which would see a future Labor government increase funding to $711 million by 2014, but the Australian Education Union said it was surprising as it pre-empted the outcome of a federal review into private school funding.
Under the promised $199.7 million boost, private school students would receive 25 per cent of the cost of educating a student at a public school from the state government. Teachers from needy non-government schools would also receive $5 million for professional development.
Mr Brumby said Labor would deliver independent and Catholic schools three times the level of funding they received when the ALP came to office. ''This provides a guaranteed funding stream as Labor will establish an ongoing 25 percent linkage for Catholic and independent schools,'' he said.
Victorian Independent Education Union general secretary Debra James said the funding commitment put Victoria on par with other states.
''Over a third of Victorian students attend non-government schools, many that operate on the smell of an oily rag,'' she said.
Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Michelle Green was also pleased, but said even with the proposed extra funding, private schools would receive less government support than state schools.
Catholic Education director Stephen Elder said the decision would be welcomed by Catholic schools, which served some of the state's most disadvantaged areas. http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=24141
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