A WA parliamentary question addresses the removal of school subsidies and its impact, particularly on lower socioeconomic areas. The Minister's response outlines measures to mitigate the shortfall, including increased assistance and funding reviews.

AnsweredQoN 868Legislative Council
Asked
10 September 2009
Portfolio
Education

QuestionView source ↗

SCHOOL SUBSIDIES — ABOLITION
I refer to the removal of the $100 and $200 lower school and upper school subsidies for 2010. (1) How is it envisaged that schools will make up the shortfalls of thousands of dollars? (2) What measures are to be taken in schools covering lower socioeconomic areas to ensure that there is no reduction in service delivery and no restriction to timetable options currently available? (3) Is any scheme contemplated to assist schools struggling to make up this shortfall? (4) Was the abolition of the $100 and $200 subsidies included as part of the three per cent budget efficiency dividend? Hon PETER COLLIER

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) It is anticipated that parents who are able to pay will continue to do so. (2) When parents are eligible for the secondary assistance scheme, the amount payable to the school will be increased by $100 to $235 from 2010. This funding is paid directly to the schools and helps support the provision of the core learning program. The percentage of applicants for secondary assistance is greater in low socioeconomic areas and therefore provides a guaranteed cash flow for the provision of the core education program. Public schools are required to provide a full learning program for all students, and this will not be compromised. When schools experience financial difficulties in being able to provide the full program, a process has been in place for a number of years whereby principals are able to contact the director Schools of the Department of Education and Training for a funding review. (3) Any schools experiencing difficulties in providing a full core program because of low collection rates should make contact with the relevant director schools and the matter will be investigated. (4) Yes.
(1) How is it envisaged that schools will make up the shortfalls of thousands of dollars? (2) What measures are to be taken in schools covering lower socioeconomic areas to ensure that there is no reduction in service delivery and no restriction to timetable options currently available? (3) Is any scheme contemplated to assist schools struggling to make up this shortfall? (4) Was the abolition of the $100 and $200 subsidies included as part of the three per cent budget efficiency dividend? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) It is anticipated that parents who are able to pay will continue to do so. (2) When parents are eligible for the secondary assistance scheme, the amount payable to the school will be increased by $100 to $235 from 2010. This funding is paid directly to the schools and helps support the provision of the core learning program. The percentage of applicants for secondary assistance is greater in low socioeconomic areas and therefore provides a guaranteed cash flow for the provision of the core education program. Public schools are required to provide a full learning program for all students, and this will not be compromised. When schools experience financial difficulties in being able to provide the full program, a process has been in place for a number of years whereby principals are able to contact the director Schools of the Department of Education and Training for a funding review. (3) Any schools experiencing difficulties in providing a full core program because of low collection rates should make contact with the relevant director schools and the matter will be investigated. (4) Yes.
(2) What measures are to be taken in schools covering lower socioeconomic areas to ensure that there is no reduction in service delivery and no restriction to timetable options currently available? (3) Is any scheme contemplated to assist schools struggling to make up this shortfall? (4) Was the abolition of the $100 and $200 subsidies included as part of the three per cent budget efficiency dividend? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) It is anticipated that parents who are able to pay will continue to do so. (2) When parents are eligible for the secondary assistance scheme, the amount payable to the school will be increased by $100 to $235 from 2010. This funding is paid directly to the schools and helps support the provision of the core learning program. The percentage of applicants for secondary assistance is greater in low socioeconomic areas and therefore provides a guaranteed cash flow for the provision of the core education program. Public schools are required to provide a full learning program for all students, and this will not be compromised. When schools experience financial difficulties in being able to provide the full program, a process has been in place for a number of years whereby principals are able to contact the director Schools of the Department of Education and Training for a funding review. (3) Any schools experiencing difficulties in providing a full core program because of low collection rates should make contact with the relevant director schools and the matter will be investigated. (4) Yes.
(3) Is any scheme contemplated to assist schools struggling to make up this shortfall? (4) Was the abolition of the $100 and $200 subsidies included as part of the three per cent budget efficiency dividend? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) It is anticipated that parents who are able to pay will continue to do so. (2) When parents are eligible for the secondary assistance scheme, the amount payable to the school will be increased by $100 to $235 from 2010. This funding is paid directly to the schools and helps support the provision of the core learning program. The percentage of applicants for secondary assistance is greater in low socioeconomic areas and therefore provides a guaranteed cash flow for the provision of the core education program. Public schools are required to provide a full learning program for all students, and this will not be compromised. When schools experience financial difficulties in being able to provide the full program, a process has been in place for a number of years whereby principals are able to contact the director Schools of the Department of Education and Training for a funding review. (3) Any schools experiencing difficulties in providing a full core program because of low collection rates should make contact with the relevant director schools and the matter will be investigated. (4) Yes.
(4) Was the abolition of the $100 and $200 subsidies included as part of the three per cent budget efficiency dividend? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) It is anticipated that parents who are able to pay will continue to do so. (2) When parents are eligible for the secondary assistance scheme, the amount payable to the school will be increased by $100 to $235 from 2010. This funding is paid directly to the schools and helps support the provision of the core learning program. The percentage of applicants for secondary assistance is greater in low socioeconomic areas and therefore provides a guaranteed cash flow for the provision of the core education program. Public schools are required to provide a full learning program for all students, and this will not be compromised. When schools experience financial difficulties in being able to provide the full program, a process has been in place for a number of years whereby principals are able to contact the director Schools of the Department of Education and Training for a funding review. (3) Any schools experiencing difficulties in providing a full core program because of low collection rates should make contact with the relevant director schools and the matter will be investigated. (4) Yes.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) It is anticipated that parents who are able to pay will continue to do so. (2) When parents are eligible for the secondary assistance scheme, the amount payable to the school will be increased by $100 to $235 from 2010. This funding is paid directly to the schools and helps support the provision of the core learning program. The percentage of applicants for secondary assistance is greater in low socioeconomic areas and therefore provides a guaranteed cash flow for the provision of the core education program. Public schools are required to provide a full learning program for all students, and this will not be compromised. When schools experience financial difficulties in being able to provide the full program, a process has been in place for a number of years whereby principals are able to contact the director Schools of the Department of Education and Training for a funding review. (3) Any schools experiencing difficulties in providing a full core program because of low collection rates should make contact with the relevant director schools and the matter will be investigated. (4) Yes.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) It is anticipated that parents who are able to pay will continue to do so. (2) When parents are eligible for the secondary assistance scheme, the amount payable to the school will be increased by $100 to $235 from 2010. This funding is paid directly to the schools and helps support the provision of the core learning program. The percentage of applicants for secondary assistance is greater in low socioeconomic areas and therefore provides a guaranteed cash flow for the provision of the core education program. Public schools are required to provide a full learning program for all students, and this will not be compromised. When schools experience financial difficulties in being able to provide the full program, a process has been in place for a number of years whereby principals are able to contact the director Schools of the Department of Education and Training for a funding review. (3) Any schools experiencing difficulties in providing a full core program because of low collection rates should make contact with the relevant director schools and the matter will be investigated. (4) Yes.
(1) It is anticipated that parents who are able to pay will continue to do so. (2) When parents are eligible for the secondary assistance scheme, the amount payable to the school will be increased by $100 to $235 from 2010. This funding is paid directly to the schools and helps support the provision of the core learning program. The percentage of applicants for secondary assistance is greater in low socioeconomic areas and therefore provides a guaranteed cash flow for the provision of the core education program. Public schools are required to provide a full learning program for all students, and this will not be compromised. When schools experience financial difficulties in being able to provide the full program, a process has been in place for a number of years whereby principals are able to contact the director Schools of the Department of Education and Training for a funding review. (3) Any schools experiencing difficulties in providing a full core program because of low collection rates should make contact with the relevant director schools and the matter will be investigated. (4) Yes.
(2) When parents are eligible for the secondary assistance scheme, the amount payable to the school will be increased by $100 to $235 from 2010. This funding is paid directly to the schools and helps support the provision of the core learning program. The percentage of applicants for secondary assistance is greater in low socioeconomic areas and therefore provides a guaranteed cash flow for the provision of the core education program. Public schools are required to provide a full learning program for all students, and this will not be compromised. When schools experience financial difficulties in being able to provide the full program, a process has been in place for a number of years whereby principals are able to contact the director Schools of the Department of Education and Training for a funding review. (3) Any schools experiencing difficulties in providing a full core program because of low collection rates should make contact with the relevant director schools and the matter will be investigated. (4) Yes.
(3) Any schools experiencing difficulties in providing a full core program because of low collection rates should make contact with the relevant director schools and the matter will be investigated. (4) Yes.
(4) Yes.

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