NO WIMMERA school will be worse off under the federal government’s ‘Quality Schools’ education funding package.
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The federal government introduced the package, nicknamed ‘Gonski 2.0’ after the previous Labor government’s education reforms, as part of the 2017-18 Commonwealth budget.
The figures do not include money contributed to schools by the Victorian state government.
The Department of education has estimated how much money it will distribute to schools in 2017, 2018 and 2027 using measures of social disadvantage.
The full funding estimate can be found online at the Department of Education website.
Wimmera schools in total will receive and an extra $2.01 million from the federal government in 2018 compared with this year’s budget of $45.5 million distributed to 44 schools.
Member for Mallee Andrew Broad has said the new system would address each school’s needs, which was important for disadvantaged areas of the Wimmera.
Labor education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek said the government had offered Australia’s schools $22 billion less over a decade than Labor.
Ss Michael and St John’s Primary School Principal Andrea Cox said she welcomed the funding but there were some concerns.
“Increases in funding are always welcome. However, of more concern is the decrease in funding for students with disabilities,"
“We are unsure of the funding. We are quite concerned about the impact on those students and their families. It’s quite unfair to be targeting those with most need.”
Ms Cox said the money would maintain the current level of education and programs at the school but not disability needs.
“A 3.6 per cent increase is a concern in light of the fact that there has just been a 3.5 per cent wage increase for teachers,” she said.
“A 3.5 per cent will in effect be covering our wage increases so there’s no real direct impact on students.”
Holy Trinity Lutheran School principal Daniel Weller said the increased funding would help in the short term.
“As an Independent school, we welcome the plan for future funding as we do have a slight increase,” he said.
“We are not 100 pert cent sure how that will play out over 10 years but we are very much welcoming of the funding model.”
Wimmera government schools with large increases did not respond to requests for comment.
Biggest percentage increase
Halls Gap Primary School on 5.63 per cent, followed by Edenhope College on 5.59 per cent and Laharum Primary School on 5.61 per cent.
They are all government schools.
Smallest percentage Increase
Our Lady Help of Christians School in Murtoa on 3.58 per cent, followed by St Patrick's School in Stawell on 3.59 and St Mary's School in Ararat on 3.59 per cent.
They are all Catholic schools.
Biggest total increase
Marian College in Ararat will see an extra $258,300 from the federal government in 2018, followed by St Brigid's College in Horsham on $195,400 and Holy Trinity Lutheran School in Horsham on $185,900.
Marian College is a co-educational Catholic P-12 college and St Brigid’s is a Catholic co-educational secondary college.
Holy Trinity Lutheran School is a co-educational, independent Christian school run by the Lutheran Church.
Smallest total increase
Great Western Primary School will see an extra $4300 from the federal government in 2018, followed by Concongella Primary School on $5000 and Pomonal Primary School on $5,100.
Most federal funding
Marian College in Ararat will receive the most total federal funding in 2018 at $7.44m, followed by St Brigid’s in Horsham on $5.63m and Holy Trinity Lutheran School in Horsham on $3.99m.
Least federal funding
Great Western Primary School will see $82,200 from the federal government in 2018, followed by Concongella Primary School on $95,800 and Pomonal Primary School on $96,400.
Most federal funding per student
Our Lady Help of Christians School in Murtoa will receive $19,557 per student from the federal government in 2018, followed by St Patrick's School in Nhill on $18,612 and St Malachy's School in Edenhope on $15,730.
All three are Catholic schools.
Least federal funding per student
Ararat West Primary School will receive $2,437 per student from the federal government in 2018, followed by Ararat Primary School on $2,555 and Horsham West Primary School on $2,746.
All three are government schools.