By KATH GANNAWAY
WOORI Yallock Primary School has told a senate inquiry they need the full Gonski funding to give their 181 students an even playing field.
The Federal Government has committed to the first four years of funding under the previous government’s Gonski reform, but has said it won’t fund the full six years.
This week, the Commission of Audit backed the government’s stance, recommending they do not proceed with the final two years.
Australian Greens spokesperson for schools and deputy chair of the Senate Select Committee on School Funding, Senator Penny Wright, is pushing for the government to deliver the full Gonski funding in the upcoming Federal Budget.
Senator Wright said the government’s current stand would mean schools like Woori Yallock could miss out on up to two-thirds of money originally forecast under Gonski.
The Woori Yallock submission said the National Partnership funding had been reduced significantly, which impacted greatly on staffing and added that full funding would give the school certainty to plan for the future.
It said the full funding would allow a full-time literacy coach, subsidising camps and excursions and purchase of new technology that would put Woori Yallock students on a level playing field with all other schools.
The submission stated results as a school were trending significantly upwards, but that without the additional resources it would be difficult to maintain the results.
Senator Wright claimed country schools were under-resourced, making it harder for students to reach their potential.
“That’s just not fair,” she said.
She said she hoped activism from schools across the country would see the full Gonski funding delivered in the budget.
