By JESSE GRAHAM
SCHOOLS have been left confused as State and Federal governments collide over contradictory funding claims from the Gonski reforms.
On Monday 17 June, the Victorian Government released figures for 249 schools that, by their estimates, would be losing money under the proposed Gonski education reforms.
A number of the schools from the Yarra Ranges were earmarked to lose money by 2019 under the Victorian Government estimates, including Healesville High School, Mount Evelyn Special Development School, Wesburn Primary School and Olinda Primary School.
Healesville High School has the largest amount at stake, with $1,421,986 estimated to be slashed from its funding, while Mount Evelyn Special Development School is said to lose $237,813.
Wesburn Primary School has $292,697 on the line, while Olinda Primary School, which had around 18 students enrolled in May, was estimated to lose $46,204.
However, former Federal Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth Peter Garrett released a list of 1500 government schools in Victoria and said that none would lose funding.
Under the Federal Government list, Healesville was set to gain $2,016,667, Mount Evelyn would gain $1,737,728, Wesburn $642,026 and Olinda $106,706 in extra funding by 2019.
Healesville High School principal George Perini said the confusion was disheartening.
“If I listen to the State Government, we’re losing money, which would be a great concern to me and would be terrible to the community,” he said.
“Or we stand to gain $2 million and I just don’t understand.
“I support any additional money coming into education at Healesville but I’m completely confused as to the different sets of figures.”
Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard responded to the contradictory figures by stating that the Victorian figures are based on the wrong Commonwealth indexation rate – 4.7 per cent instead of 3.9 per cent, falling eventually to 3 per cent.
Ms Gillard the Victorian Government’s figures were “alarmist” and urged the Victorian Government to sign up to the Gonski reforms, which would provide money on a needs-based system.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver the biggest investment in education in generations,” she said.
“The extra money will help Victorian schools give every student the best education possible, no matter where they live or their family background.”
The Gonski reforms aim to fund schools by their need through a system called the School Resource Standard model, which provides a base amount of funding per student.
Extra funding would be allocated through loadings for indigenous or low socio-economic-status (SES) students, students with a disability or students with limited English schools.
Smaller schools and schools in regional or remote areas would also receive extra funding.
Casey MP Tony Smith criticised the Federal Government’s release for not providing year-by-year funding statistics, as the Victorian Government had.
“The reason Labor won’t say how much schools will receive in the next three years is because many schools would have their funding reduced,” he said.
“It’s also likely there will be many local non-government schools that would lose out under Labor’s plan.”
Mr Smith said the existing education system in Victoria will deliver more money to all schools over the next four years.
Mr Perini said the situation was difficult for schools, which are now at the centre of the political debate.
“Schools get caught in the crossfire between political parties,” he said.
“All we’re really interested in is what’s best for the kids and learning.”
“Unfortunately it’s a utopian view of the world, but we should have a bipartisan approach – I think if we keep that focus and ignore the politics we would be better off.”
Upper Yarra Secondary College principal Robert Miller said the Gonski reforms were essential for schools across Victoria to stay up-to-date.
“Gonski is essentially focusing the funds where they need to be,” he said.
“It gives funding to put in place programs we’d like to run but can’t at the moment due to funding constraints.
“I absolutely hope to bring it in.”
Upper Yarra Secondary College stands to gain $3,226,050 under the Federal Government estimates and was not listed as a school that would lose money by the Victorian Government.
Mr Miller described Gonski as a “positive outcome” for local schools, particularly those with students from low SES backgrounds.
“The research was done with Gonski – no-one questions the research or the importance of increased spending in education,” he said.
“It will have a benefit to our society, in regard to outcomes, when students leave school, take up work and impact on the economy and in the ability for schools to care for social and emotional development of kids.”
The deadline for state governments to sign up for the Gonski reforms was Sunday 30 June, though Victorian Education Minister Martin Dixon is calling for negotiations between the two parties.
“From the beginning we said two things – we seek to negotiate in good faith and there can be no disadvantage to any Victorian family or school as a result of these changes,” Mr Dixon said.
Mr Dixon said that the indexing issue raised by Ms Gillard was “made up” figure that had been disproved in Senate Estimates, but that his “door is open” to the Federal Government for negotiations.
He said that one of the important issues to address was the autonomy of schools and said the Gonski reforms could give the Federal Education Minister the ability to direct schools’ development and provisions of data.
“This should seriously concern all schools and all school sectors,” he said.
However, Mr Perini said that schools already provided data to State and Federal governments when requested.
“We already provide data and we will continue to provide whatever is requested of us,” he said.
Schools in the Yarra Ranges losing money under Gonski according to the Victorian Government – total 2019 estimates:
Don Valley Primary School – $74,832
Gruyere Primary School – $75,687
Healesville High School – $1,421,986
Hoddles Creek Primary School – $11,240
Marysville Primary School – $58,809
Millwarra Primary School – $241,224
Mount Evelyn Special Development School – $237,813
Olinda Primary School – $46,204
Sherbrooke Community School – $273,001
Wesburn Primary School – $292,697
Yea Primary School – $155,167
Yellingbo Primary School – $61,584
Schools in the Yarra Ranges gaining money under Gonski according to the Federal Government – total 2019 estimates:
Alexandra Primary School – $1,076,501
Alexandra Secondary College – $1,781,264
Badger Creek Primary School – $1,242,102
Birmingham Primary School – $3,404,318
Billanook Primary School – $2,545,848
Coldstream Primary School – $832,125
Dixons Creek Primary School – $395,391
Don Valley Primary School – $252,841
Ferntree Gully North Primary School – $1,680,733
Hoddles Creek Primary School – $283,281
Gruyere Primary School – $258,690
Healesville High School – $2,016,667
Healesville Primary School -$2,303,826
Kallista Primary School – $1,121,913
Kinglake Primary School – $354,175
Kinglake West Primary School – $674,824
Lilydale Heights College – $4,250,770
Lilydale High School – $11,179,418
Lilydale Primary School – $1,729,893
Lilydale West Primary School – $2,151,995
Lysterfield Primary School – $2,270,276
Macclesfield Primary School – $1,304,828
Marysville Primary School – $203,862
Menzies Creek Primary School – $857,060
Millwarra Primary School – $655,193
Monbulk College – $2,802,998
Monbulk Primary School – $1,093,864
Montrose Primary School – $2,321,910
Mount Dandenong Primary School – $1,056,219
Mount Evelyn Primary School – $2,229,608
Mount Evelyn Special Developmental School – $1,737,728
Olinda Primary School – $106,706
Sherbrooke Community School – $709,555
The Patch Primary School – $1,355,454
Upper Ferntree Gully Primary School – $1,170,444
Upper Yarra Secondary College – $3,226,050
Upwey High School – $5,698,348
Upwey Primary School – $399,717
Upwey South Primary School – $1,543,667
Wandin North Primary School – $1,018,234
Wandin Yallock Primary School – $1,145,218
Wesburn Primary School – $642,026
Yarra Glen Primary School – $1,041,729
Yarra Hills Secondary College – $3,053,989
Yarra Junction Primary School – $1,304,294
Yea High School – $1,541,554
Yea Primary School – $474,137
Yellingbo Primary School – $209,357
