❓ Opposition questions potential funding cuts to non-government schools, particularly regarding changes to weighting for years 8-10 and the inclusion of year 7s. The Minister assures that no final decision has been made and that WA generously funds the sector.
AnsweredQoN 368Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
NON-GOVERNMENT EDUCATION SECTOR — STUDENT
FUNDING
368. Hon SUE ELLERY to the
Minister for Education:
I refer to the state government's review of funding
to the non-government education sector.
(1) Is the
minister aware that the proposal put to the non-government education sector
that it receive the same total level of funding for secondary students as in
previous years but change the distribution of funds between years by reducing
weighting in the lower years, effectively paying less for students in years 8
to 10, will result in hundreds of thousands of dollars less in school budgets
for those students?
(2) Is it the
case that the non-government schools sector in Western Australia was led to
believe by the government that when public schools transition to year 7s in
secondary schools, state funding to non-government schools would increase to
cover year 7s and that this most recent proposal is weasel words that will
result in a cut to the non-government sector?
FUNDING
368. Hon SUE ELLERY to the
Minister for Education:
I refer to the state government's review of funding
to the non-government education sector.
(1) Is the
minister aware that the proposal put to the non-government education sector
that it receive the same total level of funding for secondary students as in
previous years but change the distribution of funds between years by reducing
weighting in the lower years, effectively paying less for students in years 8
to 10, will result in hundreds of thousands of dollars less in school budgets
for those students?
(2) Is it the
case that the non-government schools sector in Western Australia was led to
believe by the government that when public schools transition to year 7s in
secondary schools, state funding to non-government schools would increase to
cover year 7s and that this most recent proposal is weasel words that will
result in a cut to the non-government sector?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for the question.
(1)–(2)
I will not take too long on this one because, quite frankly, the final formula
has not been decided or provided. There has been dialogue and cooperation
between the Department of Education Services and the non-government sector,
including the Catholic Education Office and the Association of Independent
Schools, and we are working towards an outcome at the moment. Suffice it to say
that Western Australia funds the non-government education sector to a higher
level than does any other state in the nation. That needs to be remembered. We
certainly are not using weasel words to try to get out of funding the
non-government sector. As I said, it is extremely generously funded under this
government.
(1)–(2)
I will not take too long on this one because, quite frankly, the final formula
has not been decided or provided. There has been dialogue and cooperation
between the Department of Education Services and the non-government sector,
including the Catholic Education Office and the Association of Independent
Schools, and we are working towards an outcome at the moment. Suffice it to say
that Western Australia funds the non-government education sector to a higher
level than does any other state in the nation. That needs to be remembered. We
certainly are not using weasel words to try to get out of funding the
non-government sector. As I said, it is extremely generously funded under this
government.
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