Canberra
Every school sector in Western Australia will see their funding increase every year under the Gillard Government's National Plan for School Improvement, as shown by new data released today.
Government schools in Western Australia will receive a boost of around $670 million, while non-government schools will benefit from around an extra $250 million in funding over the next six years.
This extra investment, plus securing a better indexation rate, comes on top of existing funding for schools and will see a total public investment of about $2.8 billion in the six years from 2014.
The new data is based on around $920 million of extra funding on offer under Labor's plan, provided the Barnett Government signs up to the National Plan for School Improvement.
From the total public funding provided to WA schools over the next six years if the National Plan is adopted:
* The location loading will provide about $1.9 billion - benefitting 83,000 students in 378 schools (35 per cent of all schools.)
* The size loading will provide about $770 million - benefitting 126,800 students in 648 schools (61 per cent of all schools).
* The Indigenous loading will provide about $1.1 billion for Indigenous students - benefitting around 27,000 students in 917 schools (86 per cent of all schools).
If Colin Barnett accepts the offer that will see better schools across WA, schools will benefit from around an additional $600 million in Commonwealth funding over the next six years.
Under the plan every school will see its funding rise year-on-year, with the biggest increases going to the schools that need it most.
Labor's National Plan for School Improvement will deliver:
* More one on one attention and support in the classroom for every child.
* Specialist literacy and numeracy programs for those children in danger of being left behind.
* Greater assistance for those students with disability or special need.
* Building the skills and knowledge of teachers and providing mentoring support for those who are new to the profession.
It is time for Premier Barnett and Education Minister Peter Collier to put the students of Western Australia first and sign up to the National Plan for School Improvement.
With 10 days to go the choice is clear. They can walk away from the offer and short-change students, or they can sign up to the new fairer funding system which will benefit every sector and every school in Western Australia.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver the biggest investment in schools in generations.
The table below shows extra funding, per sector, under the Prime Minister's offer to Western Australia:
Additional funding for Western Australian schools under the National Plan for School Improvement $ millions 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 TOTAL Government Schools 20 48 82 123 171 227 671 Catholic Schools 5 11 16 21 25 30 107 Independent Schools 6 13 20 27 35 43 143 TOTAL 31 71 118 171 231 300 921