AEU SA launches mobile billboard demaning full and fair funding for SA's public schools
AEU SA Branch media release: Thursday 21 April 2022
The Australian Education Union is launching a mobile billboard at the South Australian branch office in Parkside as part of their election campaign demanding full and proper funding for public schools in the electorates of Boothby and Sturt from the next Federal Government.
Figures released today by the AEU show that with proper and fair funding from the Federal Government, every public school could employ an average of 6 (Boothby) and 8 (Sturt) more teachers and provide additional learning programs for students who need extra help.
“Each year, public schools in Boothby and Sturt are missing out on $1,136 per student in school funding because of the failure of the Federal Government to ensure that every school is funded to a minimum of 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS),” AEU South Australian President Andrew Gohl said.
“This dire situation will be made worse by Morrison’s $559 million cut to public school funding in the Federal Budget this year.
“For too long, the Morrison Government has shirked their responsibility for South Australia’s public schools. We cannot afford another term of their callous and deep funding cuts.
“Boothby and Sturt’s public schools provide high quality education to every child, irrespective of their circumstances. But the current funding shortfall denies public school students, their families and teachers the funding they need to maximise their full potential and thrive.
“With proper and full funding, public school students in Boothby and Sturt can benefit from more teachers and education support staff, reduced class sizes and specialised learning programs that cater to their individual needs.
“The current funding shortfall in South Australia’s public schools must be urgently addressed by the next Federal Government.
“The upcoming federal election is an opportunity to elect a government that prioritises Boothby and Sturt’s public schools, their students, teachers and families.”
The mobile billboard also highlights the Morrison Government’s failures on TAFE. Nationally, vocational education and training and TAFE funding is $8 billion lower since the Coalition was elected in 2013.