Federal government failure sees every Brisbane state student miss out $2162 school funding

With proper and fair funding from the Federal Government, every state school in Brisbane could employ an average of 17 more teachers and reduce average class sizes by seven students.

New figures released today by the Australian Education Union show the direct impact on each state school student of the inequitable Federal Government school funding arrangements.

“Each year, every state school student in Brisbane is missing out on $2162 because of the failure of the Federal Government to ensure that every school is funded to a minimum of 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS),” AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said.

“This shocking figure should concern every Brisbane parent and community member. It represents the funding shortfall for local state schools. Funding that could be used to employ additional teachers, support staff and to provide the smaller class sizes and additional learning programs that every student deserves.

“By refusing to address state school funding inequities, the Federal Government is putting the future of our children at risk,” Ms Haythorpe said.

Queensland Teachers’ Union President, Cresta Richardson highlighted the benefits that would flow to local state school students if the Federal Government properly and fairly funded Brisbane state schools.

“With a minimum of 100 per cent of the SRS, state school students in Brisbane would benefit from more support and greater individual attention,” Ms Richardson said.

“Additional funding would provide more specialist teachers, more professional development and additional time for teaching and learning for all schools.”

“We know that a professionally supported workforce, smaller class sizes and more individual attention and learning support can change a child’s life. That’s why it is so important that every school has the resources needed to ensure every child has the greatest opportunity to reach their full potential,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the pre-existing inequities in education and continues to seriously impact on students, our members and the communities they serve.

However, investment in public education would ameliorate that risk and deliver a strong foundation for our nation’s long-term recovery from COVID-19.

“The Federal Government must understand the critical importance of funding every state school properly to a minimum of 100 per cent of the SRS, ensuring that every child has a high quality education regardless of their background.”