The Private School Funding Debate: A Matter of Fairness or Fiscal Reality?
The recent news about private schools spending $2.5 billion on capital projects while public schools grapple with overcrowding has reignited the perpetual debate about school funding in Australia. Twenty years of working in tech has taught me that following the money often reveals the true story, and this situation is no different.
Looking at the numbers, elite private schools like Cranbrook receive around $4,000 per student in government funding, which is less than 10% of their total funding per student. Meanwhile, many public schools struggle with basic infrastructure needs. The argument that “private schools save the government money” keeps surfacing, but this overlooks a fundamental question: should we be subsidizing private choices with public money at all?
The issue isn’t just about dollars and cents - it’s about equity and social cohesion. Walking past those temporary demountables at my local high school while reading about private schools building new drama facilities and swimming pools makes my blood boil. The system perpetuates a two-tier education structure that goes against the very principle of fair and equal access to education.
Some argue that private school parents pay taxes too and deserve a share of education funding. Fair point, but they’ve already chosen to opt out of the public system. The government’s role should be to ensure quality public education for all, not to subsidize private choices. It’s like claiming a rebate on public transport while choosing to drive a luxury car.
The most frustrating aspect is how this impacts the broader community. The funding disparity creates a self-fulfilling prophecy: as more resourced families flee to private schools, public schools become increasingly under-resourced, pushing more families toward private education if they can afford it. It’s a cycle that needs breaking.
The solution seems obvious: redirect all government funding to public schools and let private schools be truly private. Yes, some argue this would flood public schools with new students, but let’s be honest - most families paying $30,000+ in school fees aren’t going to switch to public schools over losing a few thousand in government subsidies.
Perhaps it’s time to look at successful models like Norway, where restrictions on private education have led to better outcomes across the board. When wealthy and influential families have skin in the public education game, you’d better believe they’ll advocate for proper funding and resources.
The $2.5 billion spent on private school capital works could have transformed our public education system. Instead of building another elite school swimming pool, imagine investing in reducing class sizes, upgrading facilities, and supporting students who need it most. That’s the kind of education system that truly serves our society’s needs.
The current government seems content to maintain this inequitable status quo, but we deserve better. Quality education shouldn’t depend on your parents’ bank balance or postcode. It’s time to stop pretending that propping up private schools with public money is anything other than a political choice to maintain educational inequality.