Private schools ‘save Govt money’

Press, 28 August 1986, Page 2

Private schools ‘save Govt money’

Independent schools save the Government money, says the president of the Independent Schools’ Association, Mr Neil Thomson. Mr Thomson said association representatives met the Minister of Education, Mr Marshall, this week to discuss the cut in Government funds to independent schools. “The Government seems to have overlooked the fact that parents of pupils in independent schools save the taxpayer a minimum of $3O million a year by providing tuition to pupils who would be otherwise a charge bn the State system,” Mr Thomson said. That figure did not include the cost of administration, buildings, and support services. “The logic of the thing would require that the Government would actually increase the number of independent schools to •save money,” he said. When the cut in funds was added to higher teaching salaries and the goods and services tax, it became obvious that more schools might have to integrate, Mr Thomson said. This would cost the Government even more j money. I “The pity is that it also reduces the right of | choice of parents, and flies in the face of the I Government’s proclaimed I encouragement of equality of opportunity, choice, and personal freedom.” I Mr Thomson said the Minister received these and other points well, and said he would consider I them.