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David Gonski breaks silence to attack Abbott government's school funding plans David Gonski breaks silence to attack Abbott government's school funding plans
(4 months later)
The head of the Gonski review of school funding has attacked the Abbott government's strategy of limiting future budget increases to inflation as "simple" and "not adequate".The head of the Gonski review of school funding has attacked the Abbott government's strategy of limiting future budget increases to inflation as "simple" and "not adequate".
Breaking his silence on the fate of the national reforms he proposed, David Gonski called on the government to rethink its "unfortunate" plan for post-2017 school funding.Breaking his silence on the fate of the national reforms he proposed, David Gonski called on the government to rethink its "unfortunate" plan for post-2017 school funding.
In a speech in Melbourne on Wednesday evening, Gonski warned that the differences between well-endowed schools and those in lower socio-economic areas was "enormous" and he underlined the need to ensure that wealth did not determine the quality of education received.In a speech in Melbourne on Wednesday evening, Gonski warned that the differences between well-endowed schools and those in lower socio-economic areas was "enormous" and he underlined the need to ensure that wealth did not determine the quality of education received.
The leading Australian businessman said he regretted putting a $5bn annual price tag on the review panel's proposed funding changes, because the number "clouded the entire response to our review" by ensuring the focus was mainly on money.The leading Australian businessman said he regretted putting a $5bn annual price tag on the review panel's proposed funding changes, because the number "clouded the entire response to our review" by ensuring the focus was mainly on money.
The panel, commissioned by the former Labor government, proposed a system of base level of funding for each school to be topped up by "loadings" based on categories of need among students, including socio-economic background and disability. The previous Labor government embraced the Gonski reforms but proposed a six-year phase-in from 2014. The Coalition vowed to match only the first four years of funding.The panel, commissioned by the former Labor government, proposed a system of base level of funding for each school to be topped up by "loadings" based on categories of need among students, including socio-economic background and disability. The previous Labor government embraced the Gonski reforms but proposed a six-year phase-in from 2014. The Coalition vowed to match only the first four years of funding.
Last week's budget showed the Coalition government planned to increase school funding by just $54.1m in 2017-18, which would effectively freeze school funding at the 2017 level in real terms. From 2018 total school funding would be indexed by the consumer price index while taking into account enrolment growth. Last week's budget showed the Coalition government planned to increase school funding by just $54.1m in 2017-18, which would effectively freeze school funding at the 2017 level in real terms. From 2018 total school funding would be indexed by the consumer price index while taking into account enrolment growth.
Gonski said the government appeared to have taken up the unfortunate suggestion of the commission of audit, and he hoped it would change its mind between now and 2017.Gonski said the government appeared to have taken up the unfortunate suggestion of the commission of audit, and he hoped it would change its mind between now and 2017.
"My biggest regret with the views of the commission is their suggestion that the funding of 2018 should be based on 2017 funding indexed depending on changes in the CPI [consumer price index] and the relevant wage price index," Gonski said in the Jean Blackburn Oration at the University of Melbourne."My biggest regret with the views of the commission is their suggestion that the funding of 2018 should be based on 2017 funding indexed depending on changes in the CPI [consumer price index] and the relevant wage price index," Gonski said in the Jean Blackburn Oration at the University of Melbourne.
"So the concept of aspiration, or indeed their concept of efficiency, ends in 2017, and from then on funding increases by indexes not specifically related to changes in the costs in education. If the funding be wrong in 2017 it will be perpetuated and if circumstances and aspirations change after that date they will be presumably irrelevant."So the concept of aspiration, or indeed their concept of efficiency, ends in 2017, and from then on funding increases by indexes not specifically related to changes in the costs in education. If the funding be wrong in 2017 it will be perpetuated and if circumstances and aspirations change after that date they will be presumably irrelevant.
"No doubt this is simple but, like a lot that is simple, it is not adequate.""No doubt this is simple but, like a lot that is simple, it is not adequate."
He said he was surprised the commission of audit, given it was looking for savings, did not question one of the parameters given to the Gonski review: that no school should see its per-student funding go backwards.He said he was surprised the commission of audit, given it was looking for savings, did not question one of the parameters given to the Gonski review: that no school should see its per-student funding go backwards.
"Embracing the concept of needs-based aspirational funding in an environment of wanting to save money would be better served in my view by concentrating on that aspect rather than seeking to go backwards to resourcing based on historic figures indexed, which is effectively what we had prior to 2014," Gonski said."Embracing the concept of needs-based aspirational funding in an environment of wanting to save money would be better served in my view by concentrating on that aspect rather than seeking to go backwards to resourcing based on historic figures indexed, which is effectively what we had prior to 2014," Gonski said.
He said he was also disappointed with the commission's commentary, noting its argument that school education funding increased in real terms between 2000 and 2012 but results in international tests declined.He said he was also disappointed with the commission's commentary, noting its argument that school education funding increased in real terms between 2000 and 2012 but results in international tests declined.
Gonski said: "The monies distributed over the 12-year period to which the commission refers were not applied on a needs-based aspirational system, any effect of our review only starting this year, ie 2014."Gonski said: "The monies distributed over the 12-year period to which the commission refers were not applied on a needs-based aspirational system, any effect of our review only starting this year, ie 2014."
The education minister, Christopher Pyne, has previously mounted a similar argument about increased funding not translating to better results.The education minister, Christopher Pyne, has previously mounted a similar argument about increased funding not translating to better results.
Gonski, the chairman of Coca-Cola Amatil and chancellor of the University of New South Wales, has rarely spoken about the fate of his proposed reforms, which have been at the heart of political debate in education for two years.Gonski, the chairman of Coca-Cola Amatil and chancellor of the University of New South Wales, has rarely spoken about the fate of his proposed reforms, which have been at the heart of political debate in education for two years.
Speaking at the Australian College of Educators event, Gonski said he had lost his "comfortable and comparative anonymity" by overseeing the review, but had no regrets about agreeing to conduct the exercise.Speaking at the Australian College of Educators event, Gonski said he had lost his "comfortable and comparative anonymity" by overseeing the review, but had no regrets about agreeing to conduct the exercise.
He said he remained proud of the recommendations and the 11 months of work provided an "eye opener" for him "as a businessman working in an ivory tower".He said he remained proud of the recommendations and the 11 months of work provided an "eye opener" for him "as a businessman working in an ivory tower".
"I found most of the schools happy places – places of potential, but where there was disadvantage the problems were clear and marked," Gonski recalled."I found most of the schools happy places – places of potential, but where there was disadvantage the problems were clear and marked," Gonski recalled.
"To this day I remember a principal at a primary school in a very low socio-economic area in the west of Sydney looking at me when I asked had he had any success in getting parents involved with the school. He noted that 40% of his student roll changed each year and that getting the kids to school within an hour of commencement each morning was his personal goal for the year. Involvement of parents he had tried but just at the moment felt it was too hard.""To this day I remember a principal at a primary school in a very low socio-economic area in the west of Sydney looking at me when I asked had he had any success in getting parents involved with the school. He noted that 40% of his student roll changed each year and that getting the kids to school within an hour of commencement each morning was his personal goal for the year. Involvement of parents he had tried but just at the moment felt it was too hard."