Victorian teachers prepare to hold state-wide mass rallies. The intend to take on the premier, education minister and treasurer on what they describe as enormous underfunding of public schools linked to Gonski funding. Teachers’ unions planned the rallies to campaign against the state government’s abject failure to meet its Gonski funding promise. This three-year-plus delay has resulted in billions of dollars being slashed from school budgets.
The Victorian government’s Gonski funding agreement intends to assist every Victorian government school reach the SRS. A joint initiative between the state and Commonwealth governments, recent reports indicate that the government has postponed its Gonski education reforms by three years, leading to an estimated $2.4 billion shortfall in funding for schools.
Government Denies Withdrawal from Commitment
Education Minister Jacinta Allan unambiguously called out the Opposition for not having the gall to pull out of the Gonski funding guarantee. She made the announcement as the state government’s share of funding agreement 75 percent of the SRS. They will roll out the new funding in periods across the life of the Gonski funding accord.
Allan’s claims have raised eyebrows and even derision among practitioners and educators. Justin Mullaly, a member of the teachers’ statewide union, the DCTA, condemned the government’s response.
“On the one hand they say that they are promoting the education state and that they’re going to fully fund public schools, yet they’re not actually planning at all on delivering the money for that.” – Justin Mullaly
This situation has led many teachers to believe that their schools are missing out on vital resources needed for a high-quality education.
Impact of Delayed Funding on Schools
This late implementation of Gonski funding has created a huge funding gap for Victorian schools. This funding gap greatly limits their capacity to deliver quality educational opportunities. Rank-and-file educators and union leadership alike insist this last-minute delay threatens to derail the fledgling promise of educational equity across the state of Victoria.
Ben Carroll, a key figure in the government’s discussions regarding Gonski funding, emphasized the administration’s commitment to ensuring that every child has access to quality education.
“Our priority is — and has always been — that every child, no matter where they live, has access to a world-class education for free in a Victorian government school backed by full and fair funding,” – Ben Carroll
Carroll said negotiations with the newly-elected Commonwealth government over Gonski implementation are ongoing. He’s understandably averse to negotiating through the media.
“I will not be negotiating with the Commonwealth through the media.” – Ben Carroll
Union’s Response and Future Actions
The union’s leadership remains adamant about their position on Gonski funding and has expressed disappointment over the government’s handling of the situation. They say that the conditions on the ground in their cities leave educators with no choice but to bring their collective grievances to the streets.
Mullaly noted that the proposed rallies are not a last-minute reaction. They are in many ways a required reaction to deep, historic welling-up frustrations.
“We don’t do this lightly; we don’t engage in activities like this just at the drop of a hat,” – Justin Mullaly
Hostility is building between teachers and state governors. We’ll find out soon how these rallies affect the direction of the currently underway negotiations over funding and education reform in Victoria.
