The Federal Government is offering to bring forward $3 billion in funding for independent and religious schools if they can get students back in the classroom by June.
Key points:
- Schools must have 50 per cent of students back in classrooms to qualify
- One principal says he feels like he is "being bribed" to ignore the health of students and staff
- The Federal Education Minister says the medical advice about the safety of schools is clear
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan contacted the sector yesterday to offer the schools advance payments of their yearly funding.
But in return, the schools must commit to having at least half their students back attending school by June 1.
"Why we're doing this is because Catholic and independent schools approached the Federal Government and said that some schools were experiencing cashflow issues and were asking us to bring forward the July payment we would normally make to them," the Minister said.
The offer comes after independent schools called for a bailout from the Federal Government to help them deal with an expected plunge in enrolments because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schools across the country went to pupil-free models earlier this year in response to concerns about the virus spreading through school communities, but many remained open for the children of essential services workers.
The Education Minister said the payments — $1.6 billion for Catholic schools and $1.4 billion for independent schools — would be broken up into two instalments.
"They'll get the first if they commit to have a plan in place to have teachers back in the classroom teaching all year levels by the end of May," Mr Tehan said.
"And then if they achieve 50 per cent of students at a minimum attending schools at the end of May they'll get the second instalment."
Mr Tehan said some states and territories were already moving to have students return to schools, and in states where that was not happening, like Victoria, non-government schools continued to have the option to re-open whenever they choose.
'I feel like we're being bribed', Anglican principal says
A Melbourne school principal described the Federal Government's funding offer as a "bribe".
Jim Laussen, the head of Overnewton Anglican Community College, said he felt he was being forced to decide between the financial health of the school and the safety of staff and students.
"We found out about this last night and I have to make a decision by Friday.
"Before that, I have to consult with my leadership team, my board, I need to talk to my staff and see how they feel about coming back on June 1, whether they feel safe enough."
Mr Laussen said he would like his school to resume classes but whether or not it was safe to do so had been "missed" in the discussions with the Federal Government.
Mr Tehan said the medical advice was clear that the resumption of face-to-face learning was safe.
"That's been consistent right throughout this pandemic that it's safe for our children to be at school learning and it's safe for our teachers to be teaching them with the right protocols put in place," he said.
Mr Tehan confirmed the Prime Minister told the state and territory leaders about the decision last night and said he reached out to respective education ministers to tell them about the offer.
Federal Opposition education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek said Labor would take a "close look" at the proposal.
"There are many unknowns," she said.
"For example, will some of this funding advance go towards helping casual teachers who've been abandoned by the Federal Government so far?
"Everyone wants schools to go back as soon as it's safe for students and staff."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA0LTI5L3NjaG9vbHMtb2ZmZXJlZC10aHJlZS1iaWxsaW9uLXRvLWhhdmUtc3R1ZGVudHMtYmFjay1pbi1jbGFzcy8xMjE5NjA5NNIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMjE5NjA5NA?oc=5
2020-04-29 01:29:59Z
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