Mixed reactions to Gonski 2.0

After the announcement of new funding arrangements for education by Prime Minister Turnbull, the reactions have been mixed.

AHISA has welcomed the announcement of a consultative review to provide policy advice on educational reform and also welcomed the Government’s commitment to increased investment in school education.

"We look forward to seeing the detail of the Government’s funding proposals," said AHISA CEO, Beth Blackwood. "So far, the proposals are consistent with the Minister’s comments since the 2016 federal election.

ASG CEO John Velegrinis said while it’s encouraging to see these changes, the May budget must deliver a fair and equitable budget across all sectors of education.

Velegrinis applauded the Prime Minister’s announcement, which provides more needs based funding to schools over 10 years and the appointment of David Gonski to lead another review of the education sector by the end of the year.

APPA released a statement welcoming the funding announcement committing the Commonwealth Government to a needs-based, sector blind school funding arrangement.

"While a review and discussions lie ahead, these principles have been strongly advocated by APPA since the original Review of School Funding," it said.

However NSW Teachers Federation Acting President Joan Lemaire said that the Turnbull plan will mean that some schools will take 10 years to reach the minimum resource standard and some may never reach it.

“Every year that schools are not funded to the minimum resource standard, students will be denied the opportunity to reach their potential, today,” said Lemaire.

“If the Turnbull government fully funded its part of the six-year Gonski agreements signed with several state and territory governments, all schools would reach this standard by 2019.”

The Australian Education Union said the new funding arrangements are no substitute for honouring the previous six-year Gonski agreements in full.

“If Malcolm Turnbull can afford to give companies a $50 billion tax cut, he can afford to give students the support they need to succeed at school,” said AEU Victoria Branch President Meredith Peace.

Shadow Education Minister Tanya Plibersek believes the new funding model is in fact a $22 billion cut from school funding.

"It is extraordinary that this Government is taking Mr David Gonski out and using his trusted brand to sell this inferior product," she said.