WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S STATE SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE $317
MILLION
10 May 2005 MINBUD 31/05
The Australian Government will increase funding for
Western Australia’s state schools and students in 2005-06 to $317.3
million. This is an estimated increase of $25 million or 8.6%
increase over the past year and $150 million or 90.0% increase since
1996.
Currently, there are 775 state schools in Western
Australia enrolling 229,766 students. Enrolments decreased by 0.2%
between 2003 and 2004.
Nationally, the Howard Government’s tenth Budget has
allocated record funding of $8.5 billion to Australian schools for
2005-06. The unprecedented funding for schools in 2005-06 continues
the trend of the last nine Australian Government Budgets.
In 2005-06, over $3 billion is being provided
nationally for state schools – an estimated increase of $222 million
or 8.0% over the past year and a 93.0% increase since 1996.
Inflation since 1996 has been around 22%. Enrolments in state
schools nationally have increased by 1.3% since 1996.
State and Territory Governments, which own and
manage state schools and who have primary responsibility for funding
them, should provide similar funding commitments.
All state schools, particularly the lowest achieving
students who are at risk of being left behind, will benefit from
this increased Australian Government funding. It includes support
for critically important programmes such as the provision of
additional assistance for students struggling with literacy and
numeracy, and for specialist learning assistance teachers.
The increased Australian Government funding also
provides for a massive increase in capital works expenditure.
Funding on capital works for state schools nationally will increase
by 35.1% in 2005-06.
This funding forms part of the Australian
Government’s $33 billion 2005-2008 quadrennial funding package for
Australian schools.
The requirements contained in the legislation
underpin the Government’s national priorities in schooling and will
require education authorities and schools to commit to:
- national consistency in schooling – with implementation by
2010 of a common school starting age and common testing standards
in key subjects by 2008;
- better reporting to parents with plain English school reports,
including an assessment of each child’s achievement reported
against national standards, and relative to the child’s peer
group;
- making values a core part of schooling, including requiring
schools to fly the Australian flag;
- ensuring that information is available to parents about a
school’s performance;
- greater autonomy for school principals;
- creating safer schools by implementing the National Safe
Schools Framework in all schools; and
- a common commitment by schools to physical activity, with all
primary and junior secondary students to participate in at least
two hours of physical education each week.
The Howard Government continues to support
Australian parents, students and teachers by providing substantial
levels of funding to produce real results in our schools.
Media Contacts:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Yaron Finkelstein 0414 927 663
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Virginia Cook 0412 971 323
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