Langbroek’s email misleads principals

Media Release.

 

31 May 2013

The Newman Government has a choice between a deal that will deliver $3.8 billion for schools and teachers in Queensland or relegate schools to the past with the current broken system that will continue to see decreases in funding.
Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek’s email to 300 principals yesterday evening alleging their schools will lose money under the National Plan for School Improvement is a lie or he does not understand the $3.8 billion deal on the table.
The Liberal NSW Government signed up to the National Plan and has publically lashed Tony Abbott for his plan to keep the current broken funding model which will mean cuts to funding.
Queenslanders know students, teachers and classrooms cannot sustain more cuts.
The facts about Mr Langbroek’s email:
CLAIM:   There is “a list of schools that will be worse off under the Gillard Government’s Gonski reforms”.

FACT:  Schools will be worse off if we stick to the current broken funding model. Queensland schools will be around $4.2 billion worse off over the next six years because of lower indexation rates and the additional investment on offer under our plan not being delivered.

Once again, the LNP Government have deliberately released misleading figures to assist with their own politically motivated campaign. Their list “demonstrates” nothing except the desperate measures they will go to hide from their decision to block more money for schools.

Under the National Plan no school will be worse off – it’s that simple really. Under the offer the Prime Minister has made to all states and territories there is sufficient funding to ensure every school can receive a 3 per cent increase as a bare minimum, with more for the schools that need it most.

The states will have flexibility to allocate resources to government schools, and so will Catholic education for Catholic schools. All we are asking is that this is transparent, and reflects student need.

The Prime Minister has committed that for every dollar the states contribute the Gillard Government is prepared to invest $2. This is on top of better indexation for all schools.

In refusing to sign up to the Gillard Government’s National Plan for School Improvement the Newman Government is putting at risk an opportunity to ensure Queensland schools and students are properly resourced for generations to come. If the Queensland LNP gets its way, all schools will be worse off.

CLAIM:   “Schools deserve better than political slogans and focus group tested lines. I have said all along that we want a real debate about improving student outcomes through ensuring the quality of our teachers and boosting school autonomy.”

FACT:   Yes, schools deserve better, Minister. They deserve a fairer funding model that ensures they get the money they need to resource their classrooms and meet the needs of their students into the future.

 We’ve had the comprehensive review into school funding in 40 years – it was released in February 2012 – and we know that we need to invest in schools to stop the decline in results. If we don’t arrest your government’s cuts to education, schools will lose and Queensland kids will be left behind their NSW counterparts.

The Gillard Government has made an offer to help increase investment in Queensland schools by an extra $3.8 billion over the next six years, plus better indexation of school funding. Under the National Plan we’re asking the Queensland government to commit to 3 per cent indexation in return for Commonwealth indexation of 4.7 per cent.
Minister Langbroek’s email is clearly designed to mislead and provide an excuse for why the Queensland LNP has so far failed to sign up to the National Plan for School Improvement.
The Newman Government has so far refused to make any commitments to deliver its share of additional funding or the more stable indexation we want to secure for Queensland schools – yet they still have the audacity to suggest our plan will see schools worse off. It’s hypocrisy of the highest order.
If the Newman Government continues to block the deal, government schools in Queensland would lose a total of around $3 billion and non-government schools would lose a total of around $1.2 billion.