Coalition must rule out school vouchers

AUSTRALIA – The Australian Education Union (AEU) have called on the Liberal/National Party Coalition to rule out the introduction of a policy that would cut public school funding and replace it with vouchers for individuals.

AEU federal president Angelo Gavrielatos said a new report by the Liberal-aligned Institute of Public Affairs advocated the replacement of school funding with vouchers.

“Introducing school vouchers is the policy of the radical right-wing designed to undermine public schools and increase the privatisation of education,” Mr Gavrielatos said.

“Vouchers are a recipe for disaster in education. Even John Howard was not prepared to introduce vouchers acknowledging they ‘undermined the fundamental value and strength of public education’.

“It is time for Malcolm Turnbull to show whether he is prepared to support public school parents, teachers and students or turn his back on them. Already he has opposed the Federal Government’s $14.7 billion programme to rebuild schools across the country – a programme which is allowing the construction of vital new facilities in public schools.”