The NSW Teachers Federation said today that while the NSW Government has revealed key performance targets for public schools, the most critical target to be met is full funding.
New reports have revealed confidence in public education sits at just 51 per cent, with a target to lift this to 53 per cent by 2027.
These targets, including lifting attendance and Year 12 completion rates, would be impossible to achieve without proper resourcing.
"No public school in NSW is funded to 100 per cent of the SRS, the minimum level governments agreed was required more than a decade ago. Yet every private school in the state is funded at or above this standard," Mr Rajendra said.
"Right now, principals and teachers across NSW public schools are doing an amazing job but they are being asked to do too much with too little. Student needs are growing fast but the funding hasn't kept up.
"Full funding of public schools will lift student engagement and student achievement. Closing the resources gap is also an essential part of closing the achievement gaps between students from different backgrounds."
NSWTF president Henry Rajendra is calling for the Albanese Government and Minns Government to finalise an agreement before the federal election to ensure public schools are funded at 100 per cent of the School Resource Standard (SRS).
Whilst we understand both the Commonwealth and NSW governments are locked in negotiations for a new funding deal, two objectives must be achieved:
- The deal must be signed by the Prime Minister and Premier before the federal election is called, and
- The deal lifts all NSW public schools to 100 per cent of the minimum level funding required to meet the needs of all children without delay.
"Additional funding will allow schools to cut class size sizes, give children more intensive one-on-one attention and provide more specialist support such as school counsellors," Mr Rajendra said.
"It will also help cut the unsustainable workloads of teachers and give them more time to prepare high quality lessons for students.
"NSW is one of only two states without a long term agreement on the future funding of schools. This needs to change now.
"Fully funding public schools is the only way to ensure every child gets the support they need to succeed, and we can recruit and retain enough teachers."
