A Melton school principal fears programs to help struggling students get back on track will disappear if the federal government does not commit to funding the final two years of the Gonski education reforms.
Melton Secondary College principal David Reynolds said a recent state Education Department analysis revealed schools in Melton would miss out on almost $13 million in 2018 and 2019.
Mr Reynolds said his school had been investing, thanks to current Gonski funding, in extra literacy, numeracy and wellbeing classes for students who were academically behind their peers.
The school has already seen improvements since funding began two years ago.
“These programs have been a last opportunity for students to catch up on their reading and have a chance of being successful in a Victorian certificate of education course.”
Students across the board, but especially in Melton, would bear a heavy burden if funding was cut, Mr Reynolds said.
“When they come into high school, or even primary school, a bit behind their peers, they won’t have those extra programs to catch up to, and grow at the same rate as their peers,” Mr Reynolds said.
$2.8 million funding under threat
Melton Secondary College will be one of the biggest losers in the electorate, potentially missing out on $2.8 million over the two years, the analysis predicts.
State Education Minister James Merlino called on the federal government to commit to the final years of Gonski, otherwise schools could lose teachers’ and students’ support. “Schools … need the Liberal government to provide the funding they promised and which our schools desperately need,” Mr Merlino said.
Melton MP Don Nardella said Prime Minister Turnbull’s “so-called ideas boom will go completely bust”, unless there is a commitment to fund the Gonski reforms.
But federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham called the state government “disingenuous” for cutting its own funding per student to schools and not yet committing its $806 million share of final Gonski funds.
“Will Victorian Labor commit,” he asked.
