The Tasmanian launch of the campaign to secure full funding for public schools is taking place today as new figures show the benefit of a greater investment by the Federal Government.
The For Every Child campaign aims to secure full funding by 2028 to allow Tasmanian public schools to reduce class sizes, increase the one-on-one support for students with additional needs and provide more time and classroom assistance for teachers.
AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said all Tasmanian public schools are currently funded below the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) which is the minimum amount governments have agreed they need to meet the needs of all students.
Ms Haythorpe said Tasmanian schools were only funded at 94% of the SRS and a new agreement was needed between the Tasmanian government and the Albanese Government to reach 100% of the SRS in 2028.
New analysis conducted by the Parliamentary Budget Office shows that the Commonwealth needs to invest an average $40 million each year to lift their share of funding for public schools in Tasmania from 20 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) to 25 per cent by 2028.
“The Albanese Government needs to lift the Federal Government investment in public schools to 25 per cent and negotiate an agreement with the Tasmanian Government that will ensure every public school is funded to a minimum of 100 per cent of the SRS by 2028.
“Our For Every Child campaign that we’re launching in Grindelwald today aims to secure full funding by 2028 to enable Tasmanian public schools to reduce class sizes, increase the one-on-one support for students with additional needs and provide more time and classroom assistance for teachers.”
Ms Haythorpe said while the Tasmanian Government was currently funding 74% of the SRS, it needed to lift that share to 75% and ensure all that funding was spent on schools. Currently 4% of the state’s SRS is on non-school spending, such as capital depreciation.
Australian Education Union Tasmanian Branch President, David Genford said full funding would change lives and lift results.
“This is about our students, and making sure they get the opportunity to reach to their full potential.
“With full funding, our principals can employ more teachers and reduce class sizes. We can recruit more education support staff and give teachers the time and support they need to offer students greater individual attention.
“We can bring more allied health professionals into schools, like counsellors and speech therapists, taking the pressure off families and giving the students that need it that extra boost,” Mr Genford said.
The For Every Child campaign includes targeted advertising, events and activities in school communities.
A comprehensive plan outlining the need for the additional funding and all the areas where it should be invested is now available.
