More Funding for Australia's Public Schools
Australia's public schools are drastically underfunded. Far from a viable alternative to the private schooling system, public schools provide the economically disadvantaged with a sub-par education which leaves students ill-equipped to better their situations.
The results of our underfunded school system speak for themselves. Twenty percent of Australian adults have poor literacy skills and even more suffer from a lack of computer literacy. Most of these Australians come from a disadvantaged background and were educated in the public school system. Public school students make up eighty percent of year twelve graduates, yet one third of university positions are offered to students from independent schools.
Currently a private school student enjoys one quarter to one third more expenditure on their education, allowing such students the use of more resources than scanty public school funding can provide. This gap is unacceptable. Every Australian child deserves the right to a high quality education.
Public schools should not just be a matter for the states. Education is a matter of national importance. Demand that the Australian Federal Government increase funding for public schools.