Indigenous students continue to miss out

AUSTRALIA – The majority of Indigenous students who attend public schools will continue to miss out on adequate funding to guarantee a high standard of education under new federal funding schools legislation introduced recently.

New funding measures announced by the Federal Government will deliver the maximum funding level of 70 per cent of Average Government Student Recurrent Costs (AGSRC) to non-government schools in remote areas with significant numbers of Indigenous students.

But public schools which educate around 90 per cent of Indigenous students continue to have their funding levels capped at 10 per cent of AGSRC in secondary schools and 8.9 per cent for primary schools, up to seven times less than non-government schools.

“There is no explanation or defence for denying the majority of Indigenous students adequate funding levels simply because they attend public schools,” said Australian Education Union (AEU) federal president Angelo Gavrielatos.

“Indigenous children remain among the most disadvantaged students in the country.

“While private schools will have their funding levels guaranteed by this new legislation, public schools which educate the overwhelming majority of Indigenous and disadvantaged students are still waiting.

“If as a nation we are serious about lifting overall student performance and addressing underachievement we must invest in our public schools.

“The pursuit of excellence and equity also requires additional targeted funding to address entrenched disadvantage.”