1396 Public School Principals responded to the national survey conducted in September 2008.This survey confirms the need to invest more in public schools to reduce class sizes, increase support to address individual student needs and upgrade buildings and facilities.

1396 Public School Principals responded to the national survey conducted in September 2008.This survey confirms the need to invest more in public schools to reduce class sizes, increase support to address individual student needs and upgrade buildings and facilities.

Key Findings

• The majority (79.8%) of schools have undertaken fundraising in the past year, (64.1%) for basic classroom equipment, (50.2%) for Library resources and textbooks and (47.1%) for sporting teams and play equipment.
• 100% of Secondary schools and 89.1% of Primary schools are experiencing teacher shortages.
• The top concern for principals is funding for school buildings and maintenance (79.5%)
• According to principals surveyed the Rudd Government’s top priorities should be:
  • Investing more in our public schools to lower class sizes and deliver more individual attention to students (49.1%)
  • Ensuring all public schools are able to offer a rich and rigorous curriculum (26%)

Top Priorities for additional funding to support teaching and learning

• More help for individual students (77.4%)
• Building maintenance or improvements (70.8%)
• Information and communication technology (62.3%)
• More welfare support (56.2%)
• More Administrative and staff support (55.9%)

Facilities and equipment

• 69.8% indicated their school need a major upgrade in its facilities and equipment

Spending priorities for facilities and equipment were:

• Improve classroom appearance (59.5%)
• New specialist rooms or areas (eg. For science, art and music) (54.2%)
• Equipment for specialist areas (49.9%)
• New general classrooms (45.1%)
• Toilets (44.1%)

A recent report by education economist Adam Rorris revealed that investment for buildings and facilities in Australian public schools falls short by around $2 billion annually when compared with the level of investment in private schools.

The study found that between 2002-2005 public schools missed out on average by around $1.2 million each in terms of capital works. Principals were asked what impact missing out on that funding had, the major impacts were:

• Unable to do basic maintenance on buildings and facilities (76.1%)
• Unable to compete with local private schools with better capital works (65.9%)

For further information, please contact:

Erin Farley 0409 510 879
Australian Education Union