Gonski is a funding agreement by the NSW Government and the Federal Government in 2013, which agrees to bring all schools up to minimum resource standard.
A change in this years’ federal budget see’s the Gonski program get the axe and being replaced by new funding for schools.
“It’s an increase of $18.6 billion over the next ten years for schools right around Australia, including Calare. Schools, in every sector, in every local community in the electorate of Calare will be receiving significant increases in funding because of this needs-based funding model,” said Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee.
Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party Member for Orange Philip Donato thinks otherwise, “This $11.78 million in school funding cuts represents an absolute failure by the National Party in Government to stand up for rural families. Gonski school funding is based on genuine need, and merit. Schools in my electorate were prom- ised $11.78 million because they genuinely needed and deserved that funding.”
Gonski has caused an up-roar with many believing they are getting the raw end of the deal. Canowindra High School is set to lose $264,447 of Gonski funding and Canowindra Public School will have a loss of $210,730. While the Federal Government believe that Canowindra High School’s funding will increase by $44,500 in 2017/18 and $2,724,500 over 10 years, while Canowindra Public School’s funding will increase by $32,300 in 2017/18 and $1,975,900 under the new funding plan.
“By comparing the funding differences in the Gonski agreement and the Turnbull plan, it appears that many NSW Public schools may never reach the minimum resource standard even over the 10 year period,” said Kelly Anderson Country Organiser NSW Teacher Federation.
Andrew Gee believes that the Gonski pro- gram was a broken system “We needed a school funding system that recognised the relative disadvantage that country children often face. I think the critics should start giving a Gonski, and start supporting the real Gonski which is backed by Gonski himself.”