EVERY government school in the western suburbs would benefit from the federal government’s National Plan for School Improvement, according to figures released by Labor. But the claim has been rejected by the state government.
The Victorian and federal governments remain at loggerheads over the details of the plan, just days out from the June 30 deadline for states to sign up to the deal.
Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten told a recent forum of school principals and school council presidents the Gonski reforms would deliver a massive injection of funds to schools most in need.
Schools in Maribyrnong and Gellibrand would receive base funding plus extra funding for students from low socio-economic backgrounds, with disability or with non-English-speaking or indigenous backgrounds.
“I can certainly assure everyone that under the plan all schools in the Maribyrnong electorate will be better off, and some will get access to significantly increased funding,” Mr Shorten said.
But Victorian Education Minister Martin Dixon said flaws in the proposed reform model would leave 249 state schools worse off.
“From the beginning we said we will seek to negotiate in good faith, and there can be no disadvantage to any Victorian family or school as a result of these changes,” he said.
Mr Dixon said the most recent Commonwealth school-by-school data was released to the media but not the state, “making it impossible for us to comment or respond to that data”.
Gellibrand Labor candidate Tim Watts said more funding would help pay for extra attention for students and more training and support for teachers. “This is a once-in-a-generation chance to make sure students, classrooms and teachers in the west are resourced properly for the future,” Mr Watts said.
“There are two people standing in the way of our local schools getting this funding – [opposition leader] Tony Abbott and [Premier] Denis Napthine.”
The offer to states would invest an extra $4 billion in Victorian schools over the next six years.
Victorian Association of State Secondary School Principals president Frank Sal said he believed all schools would receive more funding under the Gonski reforms.
