The Australian Education Union today released the detailed amounts of underfunding for every Tasmanian public school as a result of a Liberal state and federal government school funding agreement.

Three days out from the state election, the union representing teachers, principals and support staff want voters to know what is s at stake for their local schools and colleges.

The full table of funding shortfalls shows Launceston College is the biggest loser with an $11.5 million shortfall over four years.

Sorell School is underfunded by $6.3 million, Riverside Primary School by $5.9 million, Don College by $6 million and Lauderdale Primary School by $5.35 million.

“Every school should be provided the resources it needs to ensure every child gets the best education, regardless of their background or circumstances,” said Brian Wightman, AEU Tasmania State Manager and former principal.

“Liberal Party Ministers, at both state and federal level, have signed a funding agreement that leaves every Tasmanian public school and student short of the minimum resources they need to achieve their full potential.”

The Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) minimum school funding benchmark that Liberal governments have failed to reach is written into federal law and was developed independently by the 2011 Gonski Review of Funding for Schooling.

“Funding shortfalls hurt our kids – they mean students don’t get the extra support they need, teachers are overworked and children won’t achieve their best.”

“This underfunding is a huge failure from the Tasmanian Liberal Government – they’ve failed to stand up for Tasmanian children at the federal level and they’ve failed to meet the shortfall so our kids are missing out.”

“This is not about capital funding or one-off expenditure, this is about every Tasmanian school and child missing out every year – on average, every school is missing out on $630,000 every year.”

“For every Tasmanian parent, imagine what your child could achieve with ten percent more funding, what your child’s school or college could achieve with ten percent more funding – that’s what our vote4education.org.au campaign is all about.”

The Australian Education Union highlighted the impact of funding shortfalls with the equivalent teachers that could be employed if the minimum funding benchmark was reached for every school.

“Without this Liberal Party funding shortfall, we could have 1,409 additional teachers employed in our public schools – that’s seven and a half teachers on average, for every school.”

“Every school has different needs, for some it is additional teachers, for others it is professional support staff such as school psychologists. Some schools would run programs to help students who are falling behind and those that need to be extended.”

With the full Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) funding, the table shows Taroona High School could employ an additional 26.5 teachers, New Town High 16.7 teachers, Hellyer College 16.3 teachers and Queechy High an additional 16 teachers.

“Across Tasmania, public schools are making a significant difference in the lives of our children, helping to level the playing field, overcome disadvantage and achieve excellence for all. Imagine what we could do with the minimum funding we know students need to achieve their potential.”

“This election, vote for local schools and colleges,” said Brian Wightman.

The AEU has launched the vote4education.org.au website which lists 60 state election candidates who have committed to fully fund public schools and colleges.

For a searchable table that shows the level of underfunding for each school and college, click here.

Following is the funding shortfall for Tasmanian public schools and colleges by electorate:

Funding shortfall for Tasmanian public schools and colleges