Wednesday 28 July 2010
AEU misleads public on school funding
The McMorrow report has already been discredited by the Prime Minister and is a shameful
attempt by the Australian Education Union (AEU) to mislead the public on the facts of school
funding.
According to analysis of Productivity Commission figures, Victorian Catholic schools
receive 37% less per student in government funding than government schools.
In response to the AEU’s latest attack on funding for non-government schools, the Director
of Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Stephen Elder said, “Catholic school
communities know that continuing the current funding model will not bridge the gap between
needy Catholic schools and better resourced government schools.
“Catholic schools know that their future would be at risk if government funding was reduced
further.”
As the Prime Minister has already stated, “As state governments remain the predominant
funders of government schools, direct comparison with Commonwealth funding for non-
government schools is disingenuous.”
“The fact remains that commonwealth funding is distributed to Catholic schools according to
a needs based funding model,” Mr Elder said. “If the AEU genuinely want more resources for
needy students we share that motivation.
“We are interested in more resources for the neediest students whether they are students with
disabilities, students at risk, early intervention and literacy and numeracy programs.
“The AEU would be well aware the Coalition’s policy will not deliver funding to Catholic
schools at the expense of government schools who receive most of their funding from state
governments,” said Mr Elder.
Further information from David Ahern, Catholic Education Office Media, on
9267 0228 or 0418 351 383.
NEWS 
