Massive injection of capital funding secures choice of schooling for parents
The Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AISNSW) welcomed the announcement today by the New South Wales Government that it would invest $500 million in capital funding support over the next four years to assist Independent and Catholic schools to meet growing enrolment demand.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Education Minister Rob Stokes said the boost in funding for the Building Grants Assistance Scheme (BGAS) would help non-government schools, in particular those serving communities with the greatest level of need, to build much-needed school infrastructure in areas of the state under pressure from rapid population growth.
Chief Executive of AISNSW, Dr Geoff Newcombe, said: "The provision of this additional funding from the NSW Government will help ensure that parents continue to have a choice of the type of school and the education they want for their children.
"Independent school enrolments have grown faster than in any other school sector in recent years. With more than 45,000 additional students expected to enrol in Independent schools by 2031, the NSW Government understands the urgency for more schooling infrastructure to be built to accommodate them."
Over the period 2013 to 2018, enrolments in the Independent school sector increased by more than ten per cent to over 202,000 students. In the same period almost forty new Independent schools opened to accommodate these extra children, while many others commenced building new school infrastructure to cater for growing demand.
"In addition to the payment of school fees, parents of children at Independent schools currently fund more than 90 per cent of the cost of all capital building projects, considerably reducing the burden on the taxpayer," Dr Newcombe said.
"However, as most of the growth in Independent school enrolments is occurring in lower socio-economic areas, such a level of contribution is unsustainable for many school communities."
"Independent schools greatly appreciate this additional funding from the Berejiklian Government which recognises the investment made by parents when choosing an Independent school education for their child, and the savings they represent for the taxpayer," said Dr Newcombe.
