By JONATHON HOWARD
THE announcement that the New South Wales Government has signed up to the Federal Government’s Gonski reforms package of school funding has been welcomed by the Independent Member for New England, Tony Windsor.
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has announced that his government would boost its spending on education to unlock significant additional investment by the Federal Government.
Mr Windsor is pleased to see progress on enacting the Gonski Reforms.
“Premier Barry O’Farrell has shown that he is prepared to put the interests of kids in NSW first,” Mr Windsor said.
“The Gonski reforms are slated to deliver an extra $5 billion to NSW schools until 2019.
“Just as important as the extra investment is this new model which directs funding towards those students who need it most, many of whom are in country areas such as New England.
“I’d like to congratulate Premier O’Farrell and the NSW Government for their initiative in committing to the Gonski reforms.
“I’d also like to acknowledge the role played by NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli in recognising the very real benefits of the Gonski Reforms to country schoolchildren,” Mr Windsor said.
The Gonski Reforms deliver a base level of funding (called a student resource standard) to each student no matter which school they attend, with extra loadings to cover those with disabilities, in rural and remote areas and from indigenous or disadvantaged backgrounds.
Prime Minister Gillard has asked the states to index their current education funding at three per cent annual growth, and contribute one in every three dollars of additional investment required to meet the student resource standard.
Mr Windsor says NSW has shown leadership in being the first state to sign up to the Gonski reforms.
“I would hope the leadership shown by NSW is enough to encourage the other states to also commit to the Gonski reforms,” Mr Windsor said.
“After all, the education of our children is more important than political games.
“There is widespread agreement that the current funding system is broken.
“The Gonski reforms offer a solution, while also breaking down the old division between public and private schools.
“If we want a strong future for our children in the global economy, we need to invest in a better education system,” Mr Windsor said.
