THE Gonski education reforms were the focus of Federal Member for Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon’s visit to Singleton High School on Tuesday morning.
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All around Hunter and across Australia this week school communties are holding events with teachers, parents, caregivers, members of parliament and other community members to highlight the importance of the full six years of Gonski funding.
“It is essential that local communities deliver the message to the Abbott government that where Gonski funding is being delivered it is already making a big difference,” New South Wales Teachers Federation’s Jack Waight said
“However, it is only after six years of full funding that schools will have the resources they need to give every child what they deserve.”
If the Gonski model is implemented in full, Singleton High School’s funding is expected to grow to an estimated $7,664,448 which equates to a funding increase of 56.2 per cent per student.
The state government’s new Resource Allocation Model (RAM) funding is based on the socio-economic background of students and the school’s community plus the number of students from Aboriginal backgrounds attending each school.
Under the RAM Singleton High School has received nearly a $450,000 in a funding boost this year.
“All governments make mistakes but the Gonski reforms were not one of them, it wasn’t something that was dreamt up overnight a thorough study into the education system was done and this reform needs to be delivered,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“If anything deserves bipartisan support than this is it.
“We do need to maintain the momentum it’s too important for the future of this nation and current students’ education.”
In an address to staff Singleton Teachers Association President Greg Norris said that public education is something they all have close to their hearts and they need to keep the profile of Gonski out there so that it is continued until the very important fifth and sixth years.
“The new resource allocation model (a part of the Gonski reforms) is providing the opportunity for real change in the school and allows us to introduce 21st century learning resources,” principal Tony Jarrett said.