School funding

Advertisement
Melbourne High School parent contributions were above $2800 per student in 2024.

Victorian parents pay most for public schools as state funding trails the nation

Families are paying $620 on average in voluntary contributions to send a child to a state school, highlighting concerns parents are propping up a fall in government funding. 

  • Nicole Precel and Jackson Graham

Latest

St Kilda Park Primary School parents Allison Shanahan, Dr Ross Barham, Elisa Webb and Kara Barbuto say it’s an indictment their school isn’t fully funded.

‘Absolute disgrace’: Choir, sport, aides on the chopping block as education funding falls $2.4b short

The principal of a school within Premier Jacinta Allan’s electorate is among those tearing into the Victorian government’s decision to delay fully funding the Gonski reforms.

  • Rachel Eddie
Victorian education minister Ben Carroll.

Victoria’s ‘Education State’ slogan rings hollow

More than a decade since state Labor vowed to fully fund Victorian schools to the Gonski standard, the Allan government continues to fall short of its promise to make education a top priority.

  • The Age's View
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced a year ago they had reached in-principle agreement to fully fund the Gonski reforms.

In the so-called education state, Gonski puts our schools stone-cold last

Who gives a Gonski? Not Victoria. If there was a league table for government school funding, it would rank behind every other state and territory.

  • Chip Le Grand
Melbourne High School is on the list.

More than 200 Victorian public schools urgently need repair. Check if yours is one of them

Records that the Victorian government fought for years to keep secret reveal that one in five of the state’s public schools is in “poor” condition and urgently needs repairs or rebuilding.

  • Grant McArthur
Red Hill Special School is one of 46 state special schools across Queensland – all of which are said to have been impacted by the changes.

Teachers union takes special school funding fight to industrial court

A new model for state schools to support the more than 106,000 students with disability launched at the start of this year. Staff and principals remain concerned.

  • Matt Dennien
Advertisement
Education Minister Ben Carroll says Victoria’s government school teachers, the lowest paid in the country, deserve a ‘proper’ rise.

Teachers promised ‘proper’ pay rise after schools funding falls short

Pressure is mounting on the Victorian government to secure a schools funding agreement with Canberra and deliver a significant pay boost to teachers.

  • Chip Le Grand
Johnny & Celeste Kumar have 6 kids and are hoping their youngest will be able to attend a to-be-built preschool (in background) at St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School in Holsworthy.

Sydney private schools to receive cash for new preschools

Five independent and Catholic schools will receive almost $16 million in funding to build new preschools.

  • Emily Kowal
William Ao wants more students to have the chance of attending a select-entry school.

Victoria’s select-entry schools are in demand, but experts warn against their expansion

The state’s four select-entry schools perform competitively against their high-fee, private school rivals in VCE. So why aren’t there more of them?

  • Noel Towell and Caroline Schelle
The Age’s top education stories.

Best of The Age’s education coverage

From perfect scores and high achievers to school scandals and students’ struggles, these are the best education stories from The Age.