Independent schools lose their teacher subsidy

Press, 29 July 1989, Page 1

Independent schools lose their teacher subsidy

By MARITA VANDENBERG Independent schools were reeling yesterday from the delayed news that their teacher subsidy had been wiped in Thursday’s Budget. The cut was not immediately apparent in the Budget figures. At first it was assumed that the 20 per cent subsidy had been halved. A letter delivered yesterday from the Minister of Education, Mr Lange, informed the Independent Schools’ Association that the money al-

located was only to see schools through to the end of the year. From February 1 next year there will be no subsidy. The secretary of the association, the Rev. Gerald Clark, said it appeared the Government was acting under its own social agenda which was pushing children into State schools at even greater cost to the taxpayer.

“It really makes a mockery of the Minister of Finance’s claims that this was a Budget

of fairness and efficiency.” In his letter, Mr Lange said resources within Vote Education were being restructured and taken out of the low priority private school sector. General expenses would, however, continue to be paid to private schools. Mr Clark said that if the Government wanted to save money it should have put more into independent schools instead of taking $3 million out. “Independent schools are ef-

ficient, doing a good job and are pleasing parents. There is an increasing demand for places in independent schools.

“The cut means school fees will be increased again with the result that some people will not be able to continue their children’s education as they wish. Others planning to send their children to an independent school may be denied that choice.” The final cut to the teacher subsidy was the fourth in a

series which began in 1986, said Mr Clark.

The Government cut the grant to 50 per cent of State teachers’ costs in 1986. It was later cut to 25 per cent, and in last year’s Budget was reduced further to 20 per cent, he said. “The saving this year is only $3 million — less than 0.1 per cent of the education vote. That means that the 3.5 per cent of children in independent schools are getting only 0.3 per cent of the education vote.”

Mr Clark was telephoning schools yesterday to tell them the news. He was not optimistic about changing the Government’s decision. “We can only protest. All our past protests have fallen on deaf ears with this Government. It seems a matter of prejudice.” Mr Clark said he did not know of any other sector in education which had received such savage cuts.