Our schools, for thirteens years, are our second homes. They are where we make our friends, find our passions, and learn the skills essential to the beginning of our lives and our transitions into adulthood. In Australia, over half of the students that attend primary and secondary schools go to public schools, so surely looking after the system that is so critical to the lives of so many young people, the system that our government is 'Constitutionally responsible for' would be a top priority?

Then how come 85% of private schools are getting more public funding than their public school counterparts?

In our country no state or territory except for the ACT has managed to achieve the Schooling Resource Standard (the estimated minimum funding a school needs to meet its students’ educational needs.)

This means that 98.7% of all public schools are receiving less money than the bare minimum that is necessary for a schools to function.

However 100% of independent and private schools have not just the bare minimum, but a surplus, allowing them to have swimming pools and sporting grounds while public schools, especially in regional areas struggle to scrape together enough money for basic supplies. 

A report by Adam Rorris tells us that Australian private schools are overfunded by $800 million this year, while public schools are underfunded by $4.5 billion.

Underfunding is causing damage to the people who need support the most. The lack of funding and resources in public schools means that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are six times more likely to be low performers than those from advantaged backgrounds.

Children from regional areas, children with disabilities and children of parent with lower incomes are underachieving because teachers don't have the money and resources to give them the tools they need to learn at the same level as their peers. 

This inequality is completely unacceptable.

Public school teachers and students are sick of being underfunded and undervalued.

Regardless of what state you live in, or what kind of school you attend/ed, by signing this petition you are saying yes to equality, yes to fairness, and yes to giving every student a fair go.

Governments must take responsibility for our public schools. Properly fund public schools and stop funding private schools now.

Public money, public schools.

Read more:

https://www.aeuvic.asn.au/report-85-private-schools-getting-more-public-funding-public-schools#:~:text=than%20public%20schools-,Report%3A%2085%25%20of%20private%20schools%20getting%20more%20public%20funding%20than,in%20school%20funding%20in%20Australia​

https://www.aeuvic.asn.au/funding-gap-between-public-and-private-schools-revealed#:~:text=The%20data%20also%20shows%20that,largest%20gap%20in%20the%20nation​

https://amp.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/14/record-low-enrolments-at-australian-government-schools-should-ring-alarm-bells-experts-say​

https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/education/underfunding-of-public-schools-fuels-achievement-gap-analysis-shows-20240122-p5ez47​

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-20/report-funding-divide-australian-public-private-education-system/103123514​

https://www.aeufederal.org.au/application/files/3817/0018/3742/Rorris_FundingFailsPublicSchools.pdf​

https://blog.aare.edu.au/timid-thinking-no-longer-cuts-it-change-is-needed-now/