Fix this text
EDUCATION
Fix this textJOURNAL OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES TEACHERS FEDERATION
Fix this textAgreement No. PP255003 00104
Fix this textVo». 8 0 No. 8 Juno 28, ,1,8 90
Fix this textState Budget cuts education funding
Fix this textin real terms
Fix this textby Sally Edsall and
Fix this textWendy Currie
Fix this textThe State Government has cut
Fix this texteducation funding in real terms
Fix this textand downsized education’s share
Fix this textof Budget funds.
Fix this textIn its Budget announced last
Fix this textweek the Government reduced, in
Fix this textreal terms, its allocation to educa-
Fix this texttion. With Treasury anticipating a
Fix this texttwo per cent inflation rate, the rise
Fix this textof 1.78 per cent in education
Fix this textspending in this year’s budget rep-
Fix this textresents a reduction in real terms of
Fix this text0.22 per cent.
Fix this textEducation’s share of the budget
Fix this texthas dropped for the second year
Fix this textrunning, from 25.7 per cent in
Fix this text1997 and 24.4 per cent in
Fix this text1998 — 1999 to 23 per cent in
Fix this text1999
Fix this textThere has been no provision for
Fix this textany salary increases.
Fix this textBefore the election, the
Fix this textTreasurer proudly announced an
Fix this textanticipated substantial Budget
Fix this textsurplus. The Budget papers reveal
Fix this texta $214 million surplus and bigger
Fix this textsurpluses are expected in the
Fix this textfuture.
Fix this textThe Government has chosen
Fix this textinstead, to use its sound fiscal
Fix this textposition to reduce taxation for
Fix this textbusiness and property owners
Fix this textrather than address the educational
Fix this textand social needs of young people
Fix this textin any meaningful way.
Fix this textStaffing, enrolments and
Fix this textexpenditure changes
Fix this textThere will be an increase to public
Fix this textschool education expenditure of
Fix this textthree per cent, to be eroded by the
Fix this texttwo per cent inflation figure. The
Fix this textGovernment anticipates an
Fix this textincrease of 2735 students in public
Fix this textprimary schools and an increase in
Fix this textstaff (equivalent full-time) of 163.
Fix this textIn public secondary schools, how-
Fix this textever, student numbers are
Fix this textexpected to increase by 1089, but
Fix this textthere will be a reduction in full-
Fix this texttime equivalent staffing of 66.
Fix this textIn TAFE, matters are even
Fix this textmore serious. While proudly
Fix this textannouncing that there will be $9
Fix this textmillion over four years to guaran-
Fix this texttee full-’time places in TAFE for
Fix this texthigh school graduates from low
Fix this textsocio-economic and rural areas,
Fix this textthe Government has made further
Fix this textcut backs in the TAFE budget.
Fix this textThe Government estimates enrol-
Fix this textments will increase by 10,700
Fix this textover the next year, the equivalent
Fix this textof an additional 700 full-time stu-
Fix this textdents. However, there will be a
Fix this textcontinuation of the loss of staff
Fix this textthat has been happening for the
Fix this textlast few years, with a 3.6 per cent
Fix this text(630) decline in equivalent full-
Fix this texttime staff (not necessarily all
Fix this textteachers). The expenditure of
Fix this textTAFE is cut by 2.8 per cent over-
Fix this textall - 4.7 per cent in employee
Fix this textexpenses.
Fix this textThe State Government blames
Fix this textthe cutbacks on the Federal
Fix this textGovernment which has ceased to
Fix this textprovide funds for the growth in
Fix this textTAFE. The State Government has
Fix this textnot made any attempt to step in to
Fix this textfill this breach, citing “the need
Fix this textfor greater efficiencies in an
Fix this textincreasingly competitive training
Fix this textenvironment”.
Fix this textFunding for private
Fix this textschools
Fix this textThis is one area where there has
Fix this textbeen some recognition by the
Fix this textState Government of the massive
Fix this textincreases the Federal Government
Fix this texthas provided to private schools in
Fix this textits budgets. The allocation “takes
Fix this textinto account recent changes for
Fix this textfunding to non-Govemment
Fix this textschools ... and the impact of the
Fix this textCommonwealth Enrolment
Fix this textBenchmark Adjustment (EBA) on
Fix this textGovernment schools”. Reflecting
Fix this textthis, private schools, which are
Fix this textexpected to have an enrolment
Fix this textincrease of 9271 (2.9 per cent)
Fix this textover the next year, have had their
Fix this textfunding increase limited to 0.9 per
Fix this textcent. The per capita allowance to
Fix this textprivate primary students will rise
Fix this textby 1.3 per cent, and to private sec-
Fix this textondary students by 0.2 per cent.
Fix this textWhile this slight decrease in
Fix this textexpenditure is to be welcomed, it
Fix this textonly amounts to the equivalent of
Fix this textabout $lO million a year, or 2.4
Fix this textper cent of total assistance to pri-
Fix this textvate schools.
Fix this textThe textbook allowance will,
Fix this texthowever, increase by 3.9 per cent.
Fix this textThe continuation of these gener-
Fix this textous textbook allowances, will
Fix this textmake the job of providing for the
Fix this textnew curriculum needs of the HSC
Fix this textfar easier than public schools,
Fix this textwhere global budgets increase by
Fix this textonly 0.3 per cent after inflation.
Fix this textProfessional development
Fix this textThe Budget statement says: “In
Fix this text1998- more than $ll4 million
Fix this textwas allocated to training and
Fix this textdevelopment. A similar amount
Fix this textwill also be spent in 1999-2000.”
Fix this textAt best this means no expansion
Fix this textof an already inadequate profes-
Fix this textsional development program, at
Fix this textworst it could represent a real cut
Fix this textif the dollar amounts stay the
Fix this textsame. The priority areas are the
Fix this textHigher School Certificate, the
Fix this textSchool Certificate, use of technol-
Fix this textogy in the classroom (continuation
Fix this textof TILT) and literacy and drug
Fix this texteducation. There is no mention of
Fix this textany funding for, or priority for
Fix this texttraining and development for pri-
Fix this textmary teachers to meet new cur-
Fix this textriculum demands.
Fix this textSpecial education
Fix this textThe Budget reveals the extent of
Fix this textthe increase in the integration of
Fix this textstudents with disabilities into
Fix this textmainstream classes over the past
Fix this textthree years. In primary the number
Fix this textof students has gone from 3380 in
Fix this text1996-97 to 8313 anticipated for
Fix this text1999- At the same time stu-
Fix this textdents in support classes and spe-
Fix this textcial schools have declined from
Fix this text7603 to 7096. In secondary
Fix this textschools, integrated students have
Fix this textincreased from 596 to 4267. The
Fix this textnumber of students in support
Fix this textclasses and special schools has
Fix this textrisen from 6155 to 8274. No men-
Fix this texttion is made in the Budget of any
Fix this textfunding to support this expansion
Fix this textof integration. Federation knows
Fix this textT continued page 5
Fix this textPublic education: the end game?
Fix this textThis issue of Education closely
Fix this textscrutinises both the State and
Fix this textFederal governments with respect
Fix this textto their commitment to public
Fix this texteducation. The State Budget,
Fix this textwhich was delivered on June 22,
Fix this textdemonstrates that the State
Fix this textGovernment has not significantly
Fix this textexpanded provision to the most
Fix this textdisadvantaged young people, or
Fix this textseen fit to meet the needs of the
Fix this textsystem in paying teachers a just
Fix this textsalary increase.
Fix this textWith its new funding model,
Fix this textthe Federal Government has put in
Fix this textplace the mechanism necessary to
Fix this textensure the full residualisation of
Fix this textthe public education system. As
Fix this textRoy Martin reports (page 7), the
Fix this textFederal Government’s twin objec-
Fix this texttives of increasing inequity
Fix this textbetween public and private educa-
Fix this texttion, and ensuring the privatisa-
Fix this texttion of public education, are now
Fix this textclear, and they have adopted the
Fix this textprocess to enable it to become
Fix this textreality.
Fix this textLindy Nolan reports (page 6)
Fix this texton a success in defending a public
Fix this texteducation facility and shows how
Fix this textaction can bring about positive
Fix this textresults. Further indication of the
Fix this textsuccess of campaigning so far is
Fix this textthe decision of the State
Fix this textGovernment in its Budget to
Fix this textreduce funding to private schools
Fix this textby an amount equivalent to that
Fix this textwhich the Federal Government’s
Fix this textEnrolment Benchmark
Fix this textAdjustment has delivered to NSW
Fix this textprivate schools.
Fix this textMembers are being asked to
Fix this textlobby and become active with
Fix this textrenewed vigour and intent. This
Fix this textedition of Education carries a
Fix this textpostcard which you are asked to
Fix this textsend to the Prime Minister. The
Fix this textP&C leaflet, reproduced in full on
Fix this textthe back page and page 5 will help
Fix this textyou to construct letters to politi-
Fix this textcians of all persuasions in both
Fix this textFederal and State governments.
Fix this textThe future of public education
Fix this textdepends on the community rally-
Fix this texting to its defence. The time to act
Fix this textis NOW. Putting it off will mean it
Fix this textis too late.
Fix this textSally Edsall
Fix this textis the relieving Editor.
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
With your Trove account you can:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-689941550
N.S.W. Teachers' Federation & New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. (1919). Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation Retrieved August 4, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-689941550
N.S.W. Teachers' Federation and New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation Sydney: The Federation, 1919. Web. 4 August 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-689941550>
N.S.W. Teachers' Federation & New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. 1919, Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation The Federation, Sydney viewed 4 August 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-689941550
{{Citation
| author1=N.S.W. Teachers' Federation.
| author2=New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation.
| title=Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation.
| year=1919
| section=volumes.
| issn=0013-1156
| issue=Vol. 80 No. 08 (28 Jun 1999)
| location=Sydney
| publisher=The Federation
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-689941550
| id=nla.obj-689941550
| access-date=4 August 2025
| via=Trove
}}
Citations are automatically generated and may require some modification to conform to exact standards.
Select the images you want to download, or the whole document.
You can order a copy of this work from Copies Direct.
Copies Direct supplies reproductions of collection material for a fee. This service is offered by the National Library of Australia
Copyright varies by issue and article
Copyright varies with each issue and article. You may have full rights to copy, or may be able to copy only under some circumstances, for example a portion for research or study. Order a copy where circumstances allow or Contact us for further information.
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply.
For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
Copy and paste one of these options to share this book elsewhere.