❓ A parliamentary question regarding voluntary school fees, their impact on inequality, and the Department of Education's role in addressing financial disparities between schools. The answer clarifies funding mechanisms and support processes.
AnsweredQoN 3233Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the 2010–2011 State Budget, Division 29, page 370,
Net Appropriation Determination
, line item ‘Fees – Other’, and ask:
(a) does this item refer to the voluntary fees collected by schools; and
(i) if not, are they listed anywhere in the State Budget papers, or do they stay within the individual schools’ budgets;
(b) given that many schools collect very little in voluntary fees compared with other schools in wealthier areas, does the Department of Education do anything to offset the resulting inequality;
(c) has an audit of schools ever been done which takes into account the amounts collected in voluntary fees and any low socio-economic compensatory funding to see if the Department’s compensatory measures offset the deficiency in voluntary fees; and
(i) if not, will the Minister commit to doing such an audit;
(d) if a school collects very little in voluntary fees, does it just make do with what is provided, or is it encouraged to approach the Department of Education seeking further supplementary funding;
(e) does the Department of Education seek out and offer assistance to schools that collect very little in the voluntary fees, or does it wait until the school is in financial trouble or the school approaches the Department before it takes any sort of action; and
(f) if a school approaches the Department and advises that it has only been able to collect an unusually low amount of fees, perhaps due to a spike in unemployment in its catchment area, for instance, what action is the Department likely to take – would it provide extra funds based on the school’s normal collection rate?
Net Appropriation Determination
, line item ‘Fees – Other’, and ask:
(a) does this item refer to the voluntary fees collected by schools; and
(i) if not, are they listed anywhere in the State Budget papers, or do they stay within the individual schools’ budgets;
(b) given that many schools collect very little in voluntary fees compared with other schools in wealthier areas, does the Department of Education do anything to offset the resulting inequality;
(c) has an audit of schools ever been done which takes into account the amounts collected in voluntary fees and any low socio-economic compensatory funding to see if the Department’s compensatory measures offset the deficiency in voluntary fees; and
(i) if not, will the Minister commit to doing such an audit;
(d) if a school collects very little in voluntary fees, does it just make do with what is provided, or is it encouraged to approach the Department of Education seeking further supplementary funding;
(e) does the Department of Education seek out and offer assistance to schools that collect very little in the voluntary fees, or does it wait until the school is in financial trouble or the school approaches the Department before it takes any sort of action; and
(f) if a school approaches the Department and advises that it has only been able to collect an unusually low amount of fees, perhaps due to a spike in unemployment in its catchment area, for instance, what action is the Department likely to take – would it provide extra funds based on the school’s normal collection rate?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 August 2010
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
48 days
(a) No.
(i) This revenue is included in the Income Statement. The amount collected by each school is retained by each school.
(b) A Secondary Assistance Allowance of $235 is available to schools for each of the Year 8 to 10 students whose parents hold Centrelink Family Health Care or Pensioner Concession Cards or Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Cards.
The School Grant includes a School Support Program Resource Allocation, which takes into account the socio-economic status of each school.
Should any individual school experience financial hardship an application for supplementary funding to address any financial shortfall can be made to the Department.
(c) No.
(i) Funding policy, procedures and monitoring processes ensure that schools are sufficiently funded to carry out their learning programs.
(d) If a school recognises there is a shortfall in the voluntary collections, it would assess the impact on its ability to provide a quality learning program for all students.
Following this assessment the school is required to contact the Director Schools who will review the situation. The Deputy Director General, Finance and Administration would be required to approve supplementary funding, on a case-by-case basis.
(e) Yes, the Department has pre-emptive processes to identify schools at financial risk. School bank balances are reviewed monthly to identify any potential cash flow difficulties. Schools are also continuously monitored through a financial risk profiling process. If a school is considered a high financial risk, a Senior Finance Consultant (Schools) would work with the school to assess the situation and take appropriate preventive actions.
Schools are also advised to seek assistance from the Department promptly if it anticipates potential financial trouble.
(f)
The Department would assess the situation, as described in (d) above.
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(i) This revenue is included in the Income Statement. The amount collected by each school is retained by each school.
(b) A Secondary Assistance Allowance of $235 is available to schools for each of the Year 8 to 10 students whose parents hold Centrelink Family Health Care or Pensioner Concession Cards or Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Cards.
The School Grant includes a School Support Program Resource Allocation, which takes into account the socio-economic status of each school.
Should any individual school experience financial hardship an application for supplementary funding to address any financial shortfall can be made to the Department.
(c) No.
(i) Funding policy, procedures and monitoring processes ensure that schools are sufficiently funded to carry out their learning programs.
(d) If a school recognises there is a shortfall in the voluntary collections, it would assess the impact on its ability to provide a quality learning program for all students.
Following this assessment the school is required to contact the Director Schools who will review the situation. The Deputy Director General, Finance and Administration would be required to approve supplementary funding, on a case-by-case basis.
(e) Yes, the Department has pre-emptive processes to identify schools at financial risk. School bank balances are reviewed monthly to identify any potential cash flow difficulties. Schools are also continuously monitored through a financial risk profiling process. If a school is considered a high financial risk, a Senior Finance Consultant (Schools) would work with the school to assess the situation and take appropriate preventive actions.
Schools are also advised to seek assistance from the Department promptly if it anticipates potential financial trouble.
(f)
The Department would assess the situation, as described in (d) above.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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