Non-government schools get many subsidies as well as public funding

Interestingly, as time goes on we tend to discover more and more perks being accessed by the non-government school sectors. Some of these practices have been described as highly unethical with some practices used to secure additional funding bordering on illegal. Indeed some of these practices are of such concern that the P&C Federation has called for a public inquiry into the practices used by non-government schools in order to secure public money.

The upshot is that if the real cost of private education were to be fairly and accurately accounted for, there is absolutely no doubt that the Australian taxpayer carries not only the full cost of private-school education, but also the additional burden of subsidised tax benefits to our wealthiest citizens.

When a government blatantly gives more money to private schools than it invests in our nation’s universities; when a government spends two thirds of its education budget on private schools that educate just one third of the student population; when a government fails to recognise the outstanding educational achievements of its public schools, then that government has failed each and every citizen of this country.

Education is an investment in this country’s future and public school parents and students are demanding that governments recognise that this country is built on public education.