Thu Sep 19 05:38:53 UTC 2024: ## WA Public Schools Not Fully Funded Despite Claims: Gonski Loophole Remains

**Perth, Australia** – Despite claims by Federal Education Minister Jason Clare that a new agreement will fully fund Western Australian public schools to the Gonski level, a significant loophole remains, potentially leaving schools underfunded by 4%.

The agreement, signed by the WA and Federal governments, aims to increase funding to WA public schools to match the level recommended in the landmark Gonski review. However, it retains a provision allowing states to allocate up to 4% of their School Resource Standard (SRS) funding on costs like capital depreciation, school transport, and kindergarten.

This loophole, previously highlighted by AAP FactCheck, effectively means that while WA public schools will receive increased funding, they may still be short of the full Gonski level. The Australian Education Union estimates this loophole will leave WA schools underfunded by $1.32 billion over the next five years.

Critics argue that the 4% provision is not insignificant and that the Gonski report specifically recommended excluding these costs from the SRS calculations.

“The Gonski report warned that the inclusion of capital depreciation and transport costs could lead to cost shifting and suggested they should be dealt with outside of the SRS calculations,” said Dr. Matthew Sinclair, an educational policy researcher at Curtin University.

While the WA government will ultimately decide whether to utilize the loophole, experts believe that WA schools will likely only receive 96% of the SRS funding in practice.

Professor Stephen Lamb, emeritus professor at the Centre for International Research on Education Systems (CIRES), stated, “If the items making up the 4% are retained in the new agreements then the SRS will not fully fund government schools based on the Gonski model.”

This news raises concerns about the true level of funding WA public schools will receive and whether the government’s claims of full Gonski funding are misleading. It highlights the importance of scrutinizing government claims and ensuring that funding reaches classrooms where it is most needed.

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