(2).jpg)
Catholic schools have been accused of “funnelling” money away from disadvantaged students in a fiery Senate hearing.
Speaking to reporters in Canberra, Greens’ education spokeswoman, Sarah Hanson-Young, urged Catholic schools to be more transparent with parents about where their funding allocations are ending up.
“There are very serious allegations that the Catholic Schools Commission have been funnelling money away from poorer schools and pouring it into richer schools,” she said.
“I think there are some people within the schools sector who are more worried about the transparency measures outlined in this package than they are about the actual money going in.”
Meanwhile, the Catholic sector is warning the Federal Government’s proposed changes to school funding could lead city dioceses to break away and form their own systems so they don't have to send money to schools in poorer regional areas.
Ross Fox, director of Catholic education for the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, said there are already discussions about whether it would be in the interests of the 11 NSW dioceses to stick together if the Gonski 2.0 model is passed.
“It may be to the advantage [of the metropolitan dioceses] to form a separate system and we would be in a very invidious position where we couldn't benefit from the redistribution that is going on,” he told the hearing.
Ian Baker, head of policy at the NSW Catholic Education Commission (NSWCEC), said Catholic schools in low-income areas were being given up to $1.3m less than their federal funding allocation for the “common good” of the system.
“Our obligation is to keep all 558 Catholic schools in NSW operationally viable. It is about relative need,” he said.
Senator Hanson-Young said it was “extraordinary” that Catholic authorities had prioritised keeping fees low in wealthy suburbs over sending money to their neediest schools.
The Greens say they will only support the Federal Government's funding changes if funding is increased for disadvantaged schools.