Union demands more money for public schools

The NSW Teachers Federation was on the Central Coast on Thursday, March 28, urging Federal politicians to fully resource public schools.

The Federation says the National School Reform Agreement has left NSW public schools grappling with a funding shortfall of approximately 11 per cent, translating to a staggering $1.9B this year alone.

This equates to over 10,000 permanent school-based teachers.

A spokesperson said public school students on the Central Coast made up around 68 per cent of all students.

In Dobell, there are 16,428 students (68.5 per cent of total student numbers) and in Robertson there are 15,711 (68 per cent of total).

“However schools across the region are grappling with a teacher shortage,” the spokesperson said.

“According to figures released this month, Regional North schools (which includes the Central Coast) had 103 vacancies affecting 34 per cent of its 300 schools.”

The Federation conducted a billboard visit at Tuggerah Secondary College – Tumbi Umbi Campus and Terrigal High School on March 28.

NSW Teachers Federation President, Henry Rajendra, said it was time for the Prime Minister to “step up”.

“Private schools, which receive substantial public funding, are splurging on unnecessary vanity projects such as equestrian centres and Scottish castles, while public schools are missing out,” he said.

“There is an overwhelming moral, economic and political opportunity for Labor to back the hardworking teachers and hugely deserving students in their own electorates.

“We will be relentless in making this case.

“Premier Chris Minns and Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car are doing their bit by lifting salaries to tackle the teacher shortages.

“But now it’s time the Prime Minister joined the effort.

“Proper funding would mean more teachers, delivering smaller class sizes.

“This would allow more one-on-one time for students with complex needs.”

Rajendra said inequities between public and private schools were becoming starker with capital funding.

A report released by the Australian Education Union on February 24 highlighted the gap, with one Sydney private school, Cranbrook, spending more on a new pool and expanded fitness and drama facilities in 2021 ($63.5M) than governments spent on 2,549 public schools which educate over 472,000 students, he said.

For NSW schools it also found: a 30 per cent growth in demountables between 2011 and 2022 to over 5,000; no ongoing capital funding from the Commonwealth despite calls from the NSW Government; the Commonwealth capital grants program for disadvantaged schools delivered funding to two of NSW’s richest schools, Loreto Normanhurst and Newington; and average annual per student capital investment 2012-2021 was $1,052 for public and $2,331 for private.

“There’s no better investment than giving students the education they need and deserve,” Rajendra said.

“It allows them to explode out of the starting blocks and contribute back to their community and the nation.”