❓ Hon. Neil Thomson questions the Education budget increase for student enrolment and cost growth, seeking clarification on the data and calculations behind the estimates. The Minister provides data relating to student numbers and cost per student increases.
AnsweredQoN 2095Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Education and Training 2024-25 Budget Paper No 2 Volume 1, 'Spending Changes, Ongoing Initiatives' on page 354, in particular 'Revisions to Student Enrolment and Cost Growth Forecast', which show a budget increase from $46 million in 2023-24 to $81 million for the 2024-25 budget year, and I ask: (a) what is the underlying data set that leads to this $81 million estimate; (b) what is the calculated increase in cost per student enrolment this year, as opposed to the previous budget years: (i) 2021-22; and (ii) 2022-23; and (c) with the Budget showing outyear cost increases, what data supports these future growth forecasts and estimates?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 September 2024
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Education
Response time
9 days
a) & c) This increase relates to the annual update of public school student enrolment data
(including student characteristics) following the Semester 1 census and a revised
student population forecast based on the projected Western Australian student age
population growth from the Department of Treasury.
b) The increases in the ‘Cost per student full-time equivalents’ for primary and secondary students for 2024-25, compared to the respective budget papers were:
i. 2021-22 Budget: $3,096 (19%) per primary student
2021-22 Budget: $3,294 (17%) per secondary student
ii. 2022-23 Budget: $2,285 (13%) per primary student
2022-23 Budget: $2,614 (13%) per secondary student
(including student characteristics) following the Semester 1 census and a revised
student population forecast based on the projected Western Australian student age
population growth from the Department of Treasury.
b) The increases in the ‘Cost per student full-time equivalents’ for primary and secondary students for 2024-25, compared to the respective budget papers were:
i. 2021-22 Budget: $3,096 (19%) per primary student
2021-22 Budget: $3,294 (17%) per secondary student
ii. 2022-23 Budget: $2,285 (13%) per primary student
2022-23 Budget: $2,614 (13%) per secondary student
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