The Chair of the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC), Mrs Therese Temby, today welcomed the Coalition’s announcement of its ten principles for funding school students.

“The ten principles announced by Mr Pyne constitute a charter to which I think most schools in Australia would subscribe”, said Mrs Temby.

“I don’t think anyone can argue against funding certainty, reasonable accountability measures, the benefits of local school autonomy, student-focused funding for students with disability, or giving all parents reasonable school choice”, she said.

“NCEC particularly welcomed the emphasis on schooling as ‘fostering the development of the whole person’.

“This resonates strongly with the mission of Australia’s Catholic schools and with the 2008 Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians”, Mrs Temby said.

“The Gonski Report, due out soon, is charged with recommending a new funding model for all Australian schools. Catholic schools are hopeful that the new funding model will embody principles that also have wide community support.

“Catholic schools need significant funding support from the Australian Government to help them continue to provide a high quality, high equity education to the twenty per cent of Australian young people we enrol”, said Mrs Temby.

ENDS
Contact Bill Griffiths 0488 057 660

8 February 2012