In what many are describing as a watershed moment for NSW public school students, the system will benefit from billions more dollars in funding after the Federal Government agreed to the state’s demands.

Following months of back and forth, and years of campaigning by teachers, parents, and public education advocates, the Commonwealth reached a deal with the NSW Government and will lift its contribution from 22.5 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard – which estimates how much total public funding a school requires to meet students’ needs – to 25 per cent by 2034.

It means an additional $4.8 billion in federal money will be used to fully fund public schools, in the process helping more than 780,000 students.

“We know that education opens the doors of opportunity, and we want to widen them for every child in Australia,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

“This is about investing in real reform with real funding – so all Australian children get the best possible education.”

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare appeared this morning on ABC Radio Sydney and was quizzed by journalist Craig Reucassel about the comparison of Federal Government funding for private schools as opposed to public.

Reucassel said NSW Department of Education figures showed that private schools last year received about $24.9 million per school from the Federal Government, whereas public schools had received about $6.5 million each and asked the Minister if this was ‘the right balance’ in his opinion?

“The really fundamental point here, Craig, is that non-government schools at the moment are funded at the level that David Gonski said they should be all those years ago,” Clare said.

“And public schools aren’t, except for in the ACT at the moment. They’re not at the level that the Gonski report said they should be at.

“We’re fixing this. This is not about breaking the Gonski model, this is about finishing it. It’s getting this done and making sure that the funding is tied to the sort of reforms that are going to help our kids.”

The NSW Teachers Federation (NSWTF) says the deal also ends accounting tricks introduced under previous governments that allowed states to artificially inflate their contributions by counting depreciation costs.

The NSW Government, it says, has agreed to address this, ensuring real money reaches classrooms.

“This agreement is an investment in our future,” NSWTF president Henry Rajendra said

“It will give all Australian kids a powerful springboard to make the most of their talents and provide the crucial, life changing support necessary for those with learning needs. 

“It is a historic stride forward. For the first time, we have a comprehensive plan to deliver the full funding our public schools have been promised since the original Gonski Review more than 13 years ago.”

In 2024, the Federal Government reached deals with Western Australian and Tasmania to boost its contribution to 22.5 per cent, leaving the states to increase their funding to 77.5 per cent.

But every other state held out for a bigger slice of the pie, with Victoria and South Australia coming to a deal in January after the Commonwealth offered to lift its share to 25 per cent – foreshadowing the NSW deal.

NSW has also agreed to tie its funding to reforms like numeracy checks in early years, wellbeing initiatives and reforms to improve the retention and attraction of teachers.

“Public education is the best investment any government can make,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said.

“Every single child in Australia has the right to a quality, free public education and we are proud to work with the Albanese Labor government to ensure New South Wales schools are fully funded.”

Rajendra said public school teachers in the state will now turn their attention to a “full throated defence” of the agreement at the coming federal election, promising a high impact campaign across NSW electorates.

“The upcoming federal election presents a clear choice for the future of education, public schools and TAFE, in this country,” he said.

“Peter Dutton and the Coalition have a documented history of cutting education funding, tearing up agreements with states, and redirecting resources to private schools at the expense of public education.

 ”Our members will now campaign vigorously to defend and implement this historic agreement. We will not allow the progress we’ve made to be undone.”

With NSW on board, Queensland remains the lone hold out but discussions are ongoing.

(with AAP)