The Catholic education sector has warned of a voter backlash after the Federal Government announced its latest funding model.
Under the proposed Gonski 2.0 funding, a patchwork of 27 agreements will be rolled into a single, needs-based model, meaning all non-government schools will be brought into line with the school resourcing standard within 10 years.
All Catholic schools will face a 10-year funding freeze as part of this, expected to leave them with less funding in 2027 than received in 2017.
The Federal Government’s new model is expected to inject an extra $18.6 billion into schools over the next decade.
The National Catholic Education Commission told ABC News the changes would result in funding cuts across its schools, and fees would rise as a result.
It has called on the Government to release further details and consult with the sector.
“Here is a policy that is alienating voters and I think that it will work against the Government,” Tim McDonald, National Catholic Education Commission West Australian director, told ABC News.
However, Grattan Institute School Education Program Director Pete Goss told ABC News the Government’s policy was trying to end the funding wars.
“The Catholic Schools are saying that under the current deal they are going to be worse off and that is probably correct, but the current deal was too generous for everybody,” he said.
“The Government is saying that Catholic schools will get more money.
“I think the Government is basically right, but I think there is one clear exception which is Catholic Schools in the ACT, which have been on an unusual deal for a while that has been very generous to them.”
