Gonski Funding for Port Stephens Schools FEATURED MidCoast LGA (overall news) by News Of The Area - Modern Media - May 15, 2017 Give A Gonski For Students: Teachers Shane Nunan and Megan Henry. THE Federal Budget provides an increase of $820 million in funding for NSW Schools over the next four years. Modern Media: Advertise with News Of The Area and you get your ad in 1) in Print, 2) on the News Website (like this ad), and 3) on our Social Media news site. A much more efficient way to advertise. Reach a HUGE audience for a LOW price TODAY! Call us on 02 4983 2134. Or media@newsofthearea.com.au Or CLICK FOR ADVERT QUOTE However, NSW Teachers Federation Councillor and local teacher, Mrs Vanessa Shultz, said the injection of funding “falls way short” of the original Gonski funding promise. “The Federal Government was supposed to deliver $3.8 billion over the next two years, and according to Malcolm Turnbull, we will get less than half,” Mrs Shultz said. Under the Gonski needs-based funding agreement introduced by Labor, all schools would reach the minimum resource standard by 2019. “The Turnbull funding plan means that schools will now take 10 years to reach this standard,” Mrs Shultz said. “This will disadvantage students and deny them the opportunity of reaching their potential.” According to the Federal Government’s School Funding Estimator, Shoal Bay Public School will receive $13,471,500, Soldiers Point Public School will get $11,155,000, Anna Bay Public School $9,986,600, Tomaree Public School will receive $12,967,000 and Tomaree High School 50,008,100in funding over the next ten years. However, NSW Education Department secretary Mark Scott, wrote to every Public School Principal in the state last week, advising them not to rely on the funding figures released by the Turnbull Government. “The figures for your school were calculated by the Commonwealth on the assumption that every school would receive exactly the same increase in funding,” Mr Scott stated. “The commitment by the State to the Gonski principles of needs-based funding means that every school receives a different level of funding to reflect the needs of their school community.” Mrs Shultz said every year that schools are not funded to the minimum resource standard, means that students will miss out on the help they need. “It’s all targeted, needs-based funding and is used for many things like one-on-one literacy and numeracy programs, additional teachers and teachers’ aides and senior tutorial centres,” she said. Mrs Shultz told News Of The Area, Federation will “keep the pressure on the government”. “We just want everyone to be on an equal playing field,” she said. “I honestly don’t think that we can wait 10 years for funding.” By Daniel SAHYOUN NSW Teachers Federation Councillor Vanessa Shultz. (left)Fair Funding for Every Student: Teachers Kaleena Whatson and Megan Henry.(right)
