WHAT IS 'ELECTION 2010' ABOUT?
The Election 2010 website is an information resource for independent schools and their supporters who want to ensure their voice is heard in the upcoming Federal Election.
On these pages you will find information about the major issues facing independent schools, particularly schools funding, along with information about independent schools in each federal electorate.
There are currently two major issues for independent schools:
- the education policies of the major political parties, and
- the Review of Funding for Schooling being conducted by the Australian Government.
These two issues will require independent schools to have a strong voice to ensure that government policy on schooling does not negatively impact on independent school communities. More information about these issues is provided below.
The Association of Independent Schools of NSW encourages all independent schools to use the materials and resources provided here, as appropriate, when communicating with their school communities. Supporters of independent schools – parents, students and communities – need to ensure that their local Federal Member of Parliament, as well as election candidates from all parties, understand the importance of retaining a fair system for the funding of independent schools.
It is fair and reasonable to ask members of parliament and candidates to provide their commitment to supporting independent schools through appropriate funding. It is also reasonable to inform members and candidates that failure to retain a fair school funding system can result in supporters of independent schools registering their concerns via the ballot box.
Some basics about schools funding
Government funding for school education has long been a significant issue in our community, and is often a major election issue. Some general information about how school funding operates is available here.
More detailed information about schools funding is available from The Essentials page.
The Government's Review of Funding for Schooling
In April 2010 the then Minister for Education (and now Prime Minister), Julia Gillard, announced that before making decisions about schools funding beyond 2012, there would be a detailed review of the current school funding arrangements. She promised the review would be open, transparent, thorough and wide-ranging and would include the funding arrangements for all schools. More information about the Review is available here.
The report from the Review Panel is not expected to be completed until the second half of 2011, when the recommendations will be considered by the Federal Government. This means that there is no certainty prior to the upcoming Federal election about what will happen with independent school funding until after the election. More information about the Review of Funding for Schooling, including the Terms of Reference which were released on 9th July 2010, is available here.
The Independent Schools Council of Australia (ISCA), in its response to the Review's draft Terms of Reference and Discussion Paper, also raised some very important issues for independent schools. You can see the ISCA paper here.
Make Your Voice Heard
Independent schools and their supporters - parents, students and school communities – need to ensure that Members of Parliament and election candidates from all parties understand the importance of retaining a fair system of government funding for independent schools.
This website gives you information to assist you to do that. A great deal of information, data and statistics about schooling in general, and independent schooling in particular, is provided to help independent school communities, including principals and parents, to participate in this important issue.
If you would like copies of any documents or resources, or have any questions about this website, please contact Malcolm Hunt at mhunt@aisnsw.edu.au or on (02) 9299 2845.
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