Australian private schools spent $2.5 billion on capital projects, while public schools face overcrowding

The recent report by the Australian Education Union (AEU) on school funding is a wake-up call to the deep inequality between private and public schools in Australia. The AEU reveals that five elite private schools—Cranbrook, Barker College, Abbotsleigh, Caulfield Grammar, and Loreto Mandeville Hall—spent more on new facilities in 2021 than what was allocated for capital works in over 3,300 public schools combined. These five schools alone spent $175.6 million, while public schools received just $175.4 million in total.

Schools like Cranbrook, which charge over $30,000 a year in fees, are building pools and expanding drama facilities with government funds, while public schools across Australia struggle with overcrowded classrooms, temporary demountables, and outdated facilities. Cranbrook alone spent $63.5 million in 2021 on new facilities, more than the combined total for public school funding in Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Barker, Abbotsleigh, Caulfield Grammar, and Loreto Mandeville Hall also spent tens of millions on their facilities, adding to the growing divide.

The situation gets worse when you consider the ongoing overfunding of private schools. A staggering $40 million from federal capital grants, meant for disadvantaged private schools, was funneled into wealthy institutions instead. For example, Loreto Normanhurst, with fees exceeding $31,000, received $250,000 from this program. This raises serious concerns about the fairness of the funding system.

Public schools, meanwhile, have been left in the dust. According to the AEU, public schools are receiving a fraction of the funds allocated to private schools, with only 1.3% of public schools fully funded, compared to 98% of private schools. This discrepancy contributes to a massive $31.8 billion gap in capital funding, and it’s a gap that has only grown wider over the past decade. While private schools continue to thrive, public schools are increasingly forced to make do with less.

This is not just about money; it’s about the future of our children. Public school advocates, like AEU president Correna Haythorpe, are calling for immediate action to fix this disparity. Haythorpe points out that private schools are receiving millions for lavish facilities while public schools are left with overcrowded, demountable classrooms to cope with rising enrolments. “Some private schools were able to spend on lavish facilities due to government overfunding while public schools were increasingly left with demountable classrooms,” she said.

In 2023, the Albanese government introduced a one-year $216 million building grants program aimed at improving public school facilities. However, this program only covers a small portion of the 6,700 public schools across Australia, leaving many without the much-needed infrastructure upgrades. The capital funding for public schools was slashed by the previous Coalition government in 2017, which led to a significant backlog in school maintenance.

While public schools are fighting for every dollar, private schools continue to receive substantial government funding. Barker College, for example, has announced a $150 million investment in new facilities, including a performing arts and exam centre. Loreto Mandeville Hall is planning a $130 million redevelopment. Meanwhile, public schools are left struggling with aging buildings and overcrowded classrooms.

Adam Bandt, leader of the Greens, has expressed his support for the AEU’s calls for more equitable funding for public schools. He said, “We need to ensure that every student has access to the same opportunities regardless of which school they attend. The funding system needs to be fixed.” Bandt’s comments highlight the need for a fairer distribution of resources to ensure that all students, regardless of their socio-economic background, have access to quality education.

In conclusion, as Correna Haythorpe points out, “Public schools need more funding, not less. They need proper infrastructure and facilities to ensure every student, no matter where they come from, has access to a quality education.” Until the government starts prioritizing public schools and ensuring that funds are distributed more equitably, we will continue to see a growing divide in education, with wealthy private schools receiving lavish funding while public schools are left to make do with what they have.

It’s hard to feel good about my taxes being spent on building pools and drama centres at elite private schools while public schools are struggling to maintain basic infrastructure. It’s time for a change. We need to redirect those funds to the schools that actually need them, and only then can we truly say we’re working towards a fairer, more equal society.