This is the result of long bi-partisan policies to defund public education in favour of religious private education. We either want this outcome or are too poorly informed or apathetic to demand political change. Digital devices are a distraction, not just for students, but for voters who will be told the problem is technology and definitely not the result of government policy increasing disadvantage and division.
Menzies wedged the Labor party on federal funding for Catholic education in 1964. Before that Labor had been committed to quality secular education. Labor could not afford to lose working class catholic support having already suffered the DLP split. Labor’s support for funding private education has only strengthened under the grip of the ALP Right. I am aware there are more than 2 parties in Australia but there is no realistic prospect of any governing party in this country fixing the real problem. If anything the country seems to be going the other way.
@shirro Considering Gonski went a long way to fixing the divide, before turnbull royally screwed it, and there are clawbacks happening now with albo, it obviously isn’t bi-partisan. As you mentioned, even back in 64, Labor was wedged.
Gonski was a half measure. The good old Gillard years though. Knifed by a Marist College boy for her efforts.
Private (very obviously not independent) schools receive the bulk of the funding because politicians are (as per usual) rorting the system to suit the rich, and to suit religious nutfucks.
If 100% of education funding went to public schools, those schools would obviously be better.
It’s going to be one of the major contributing factors to the downfall of Australia.
Public education has been one of the greatest socialist gifts Australia had been given and has been progressively undermined by intentionally underfunding whilst giving away 100s of mullions to private and religious schools for their own development.
Improve the ratio of teachers to students, 1:40 is not enough
