A QUEENSLAND Government move to commit a greater share of recurrent funding for non-government schools to those schools most in need has been welcomed by Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director Mike Byrne.
Mr Byrne joined Education and Training Minister Rod Welford at St Brendan’s Catholic school at Moorooka in Brisbane on October 22 for the announcement.
“This policy is welcome recognition for students and families who most need our support and for the Catholic and other non-government school communities that provide wonderful educational opportunities for them,” Mr Byrne said.
“I commend the minister for his commitment to social justice in recognising and acting to support the needs of these school communities.”
Mr Welford’s announcement changes the needs-based structure of State Government funding for non-government schools.
At present, 22.5 per cent of State Government recurrent funding is subject to the Government’s “needs” criteria. The remainder is distributed on a per capita basis only.
To put more money into areas of high need, Mr Welford has decided
that over the next few years, the proportion of funding subject to the needs criteria will be increased to 40 per cent.
While the program does not include additional money for the non-government sector, many Catholic schools with high needs in terms of socio-economic status, remote location, Indigenous population, students from non-English speaking backgrounds and other special needs, will benefit as the program is phased in.
“While the program will only deliver a small increase in the share of funds delivered to the needy schools initially, as it is phased in, they will gain significant benefits,” he said.
Mr Byrne said Queensland Catholic schools educated students from across the socio-economic spectrum and non-English speaking backgrounds as well as serving communities in rural and remote areas of the state.
