2016-02-26
The Greens have continued their unwavering support for fairer schools funding with the announcement of a $3.5 billion needs-based package to bring about sector blind, equitable funding for all our schools.
“We have never wavered from including years five and six of the National Education Reform Agreement in our costed election platform,” Greens Leader Richard Di Natale said.
“We've had this policy costed at $3.5bn above the Coalition’s schools budget, which has slashed years five and six of NERA.”
The Greens will also go to this year’s election with a package to properly recognise and resource support for students with a disability.
“Our preliminary analysis shows there is a funding gap of 276,955 students, which is over double what is currently supported,” Senator Di Natale said.
“If we can’t properly recognise and resource our most disadvantaged students, then how can we claim to have an equitable education system.”
“To do otherwise is not fair on students, it's not fair on parents, and it's not fair on educators.”
Greens spokesperson for schools Nick McKim said Australia’s innovative future depended on a properly funded education system.
“We aren’t going to have an ideas boom with schools starved of funding and teachers feeling disrespected,” Senator McKim said.
“The best investment you can make towards an ideas boom is in the schools that educate our future innovators.”