No surprises on funding commentary

Non-government schools $7,430 per student (basically comprising catholic systemic schools)

Independent schools $6,450 per student (non aligned independent schools) (Snapshot 2012).

The public school sector rightly received the majority share of ALL government funding allocations, an inconvenient truth the AEU fails to acknowledge in opposing any recurrent funding to the non-public school sector.

5. Both major parties are essentially locked in to direct additional funds to schools in the future.

The Australian Financial Review's claim that the 'prospect of a future Coalition government retreat on the promised money – even in four years' time – (is) that much harder' may well be true but the national economic climate will strongly dictate any such funding decision whichever major political party in is power in 2018.

Ideally all educationalists would hope additional money will continue to flow towards all education – schools and higher learning – although the past promise that additional funding will automatically improve schooling outcomes has proven a mirage.

Considerable past money has been allocated to schools – the $16.2 billion BER outlay being an ALP highlight – but the money has not reversed steadily declining international comparisons for Australian students notably in poor literacy, numeracy and scientific skills or static improvement in highly academically gifted students.

A fundamental re-assessment of the more than $40 billion annual schooling allocation from all governments should become a national priority that involves federal leadership to achieve improved student outcomes as well as state/territory involvement to realise the national urgency to co-operatively and comprehensively move towards improved student goals.

Unless such a national vision is promulgated schools and higher education remain what they have been demonstrably degraded across numerous parliaments – a battleground for electoral advantage - rather than a fundamental bell weather measurement of Australia's international standing in teaching and learning performance.