Schools in the electorate of Burt would receive an extra $23 million over the next decade if Labor is elected at July 2 election than they would if the Coalitions was according to Labor candidate for Burt Matt Keogh.
Under Labor’s your child, our future funding scheme the federal government would play a huge role in funding education and nationwide would put an extra $37billion into the sector than is currently planned.
Mr Keogh said under the Coalition, Australian literacy and numeracy levels had been slipping internationally.
He said the money would go towards increasing base funding levels, increasing allied health services at schools and improving outcomes for students in lower socio economic areas.
“This program is about restoring the Gonski funding program long term.
“The government has pulled out about $29 billion from funding education in Australia.
“This program puts in an addition $37.3 billion over the next decade.”
Education and Training Minister Simon Birmingham said Labor and the unions were running a scare campaign.
“The Turnbull Government’s plan for student achievement will deliver record funding to schools that is needs-based and tied to evidence-based initiatives that will lift outcomes for Australia’s children,” he said.
“We will build on the existing record base for federal funding in schools, which will grow by $4.1 billion or 26.5 per cent from 2015/16 to 2019/20 including increasing funding to government schools by an estimated 33 per cent and to non-government schools by an estimated 22 per cent.”
Cecil Andrews parent and P&C member Cindy Beasland welcomed the announcement and said Cecil Andrews would be one of the best schools in the region with the right funding.
“Between 2014 and 2017, the Coalition is growing funding for schools in Burt by $20.5 million and we will build on that existing record base for federal funding from 2018.
“Our growth means there’s no reason schools won’t be able to continue to support teachers and new or existing initiatives, such as specialist teachers or targeted intervention programs.”
