School funding review vital for public education

Australia: The Australian Education Union (AEU) has welcomed the release of the final terms of reference for the Review of Funding for Schooling, initiated by the Federal Government.
AEU federal president Angelo Gavrielatos said the review needed to recognise the special role of public education in our past and our future.
“This review must recognise the rights of all Australians to access a well-resourced, high quality public school in their local community and the obligations of governments to provide that,” Mr Gavrielatos said.
“This is a chance for us to put in place a funding system that delivers for all students, not just a few. True equity can only exist when government schools set the standard for high quality education.
“The achievement of high quality education outcomes for every student requires recognition of the additional costs involved in educating children from a diverse range of backgrounds and circumstances.
Factors such as family income, indigeneity, language background, geographic location, disabilities and special needs, and other socio-economic and cultural factors have an impact on the educational needs and outcomes of students, and thus of schools and sectors.
“We must recognise these needs and costs in a new funding system and get rid of the current model which funds schools regardless of need or resources.