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National education news
New data from the AEU shows that public schools do not have the resources required to meet the needs of students with disability.
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The AEU’s 2021 State of our Schools survey of public school teachers, principals and education support staff found:
• Eighty-three per cent of all principals say they do not have sufficient resources to appropriately meet the needs of students with disability at their school.
• Eighty-nine per cent of principals use funds from other budget areas to cover funding shortfalls for students with disability.
• Sixty-four per cent of principals say that students with disability or learning difficulties would benefit the most from funding schools to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS).
• Eighty-seven per cent of principals say that teachers would benefit most from additional classroom support when teaching students with disability or learning difficulties with 100 per cent of the SRS.
“Almost nine in 10 principals surveyed told us that they ensure the students with disability enrolled in their school get the educational support they need by using funding required for other purposes,” AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said.
“The situation is particularly urgent in very remote schools where 95 per cent of teachers have reported that the needs of students with disability at their school are not being appropriately met. “This data clearly shows there is a critical need to ensure public schools are funded to a minimum of 100 per cent of the SRS.
“Every student, irrespective of their situation, deserves access to the educational opportunities that can fully harness their potential and talent. Public school principals, teachers and education support staff go above and beyond to ensure that the needs of students with disability are met and this must be backed in by governments properly funding public schools.
“We call on the federal government to immediately address the funding inequities for public students with disability by ensuring that a minimum of 100 per cent of the SRS is delivered for every school.”
Invest in preschool, invest in the nation
Australia’s youngest children are at risk of being left behind due to the ongoing failure of the federal and some state governments to invest in three-year-old preschool. The AEU is continuing to call on the federal government to invest in two years of early education for all Australian children before they start school.
“The evidence is clear. Children have the best opportunity to reach their full potential when they have at least two years of high quality, play-based learning in the years prior to school,” said AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe. “Importantly, preschool education must be delivered by qualified and professional early childhood teachers. “By investing in three-year-old preschool, governments are investing in the future of our nation. Children who attend preschool for two years are shown to do better at school, to stay at school longer, to be more likely to continue their education beyond school and to be employed in the workforce.” Modelling conducted in 2019 by PwC shows that for every dollar invested in preschool, Australia receives a dividend of twice that over the life of a child. “The AEU has been calling for the federal government to extend preschool funding to three-year-olds for many years,” Ms Haythorpe said. “This is best practice internationally, with OECD data showing other nations have long recognised the value of investment in two years of high-quality early learning. “In the absence of federal government leadership, states like Victoria and the ACT have stepped up, and SA Labor has made a commitment to invest in threeyear-old preschool. “It’s well past time for the federal government to show leadership and make this critical investment in the future of young Australians.”
