School costs – PV media comment

Recent media stories in The Age and Herald-Sun have reported on the high costs of schooling in Victoria. Both articles refer to a recent report from ACARA, the National Report on Schooling in Australia.

While the ACARA report covers both public and private schools, parents at public schools may be particularly interested in the following statistics:

• According to the Herald-Sun article, “The report, released on Wednesday, shows the state government invested $20,125 in recurrent funding per public school student in the 2023-24 financial year – which was $428 less than what was offered in the year prior and the lowest nationally.”
• The Age article looks at voluntary parent contributions at public schools. The article says, “The report, released on Wednesday, shows the state government invested $20,125 in recurrent funding per public school student in the 2023-24 financial year – which was $428 less than what was offered in the year prior and the lowest nationally.”

Parents Victoria CEO Gail McHardy is quoted in the Age article, as follows:

Parents Victoria chief executive Gail McHardy said Victorian government schools were “systematically underfunded – well below nationally agreed benchmarks”.
“Asking parents to shoulder rising contributions simply to maintain basic programs is neither fair nor sustainable,” she said.
“It may be technically voluntary, but when the school budget is stretched, many families feel pressured to pay to ensure their child has access to essentials. Education isn’t truly free until families aren’t compelled by circumstance to pay for core teaching and materials.”

The Age article concludes:

Economist and public education advocate Trevor Cobbold said Victorian public school parents were confronted with an “absurd contradiction”.

“Public education is far from free in Victoria.”

Read the Age article (subscription only)

Read the Herald-Sun article (subscription only)

Read the ACARA report (freely available)