Gonski delays for an 'education election'

Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Source: The Sunday Times

THE Federal Government has deliberately stalled negotiations over school funding reform in order to win an "education election", according to the Greens and state education ministers.

Senator Penny Wright said there was now little chance Prime Minister Julia Gillard would be able to gain state and territory agreement at next month's Coalition of Australian Governments Meeting for the Government's response to the Gonski review of school funding.

"We are concerned the Labor government is prepared to risk the education of Australian children to increase their own electoral chances," Senator Wright said.

"They have been dragging their feet over the Gonski reforms since February last year and it looks like they are deliberately holding off on acting on them now so that they can make it an election issue."

"Leaving everything to the last minute is a huge gamble for our children."

Released in February last year after being commissioned by the Federal Government in 2010, the Gonski review recommended a fairer system of school funding that saw every child receive the same support, with extra loadings for disadvantaged students.

With less than three weeks until April's COAG meeting to reach agreement on the reforms, State education ministers and Catholic schools say they still have no clear idea of what the new model will be.

Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the states had spent 18 months participating in Ministerial Council officer meetings and teleconferences but were yet to see any definitive detail.

"Up until now the Prime Minister has been trying to sell Gonski without giving state governments any detail," Mr Langbroek said.

"The Gillard Government has been running a cynical campaign from the beginning and quite frankly I'm tired of the motherhood statements and empty promises.

"Victoria's education minister Education Minister Martin Dixon met yesterday with Federal Education Minister Peter Garrett, describing their discussions which had been postponed twice in the past month as a "positive step".

"But we are three weeks away from COAG and I still haven't received key details about the Commonwealth plan which we have been seeking over the last twelve months," Mr Dixon told News Ltd.

Save Our Schools convenor Trevor Cobbold, a former Productivity Commission economist, said the process had been "appalling".

"It's all been delayed to make it a big issue in the coming election campaign and the danger is that it's going to fail," Mr Cobbold said.

"That means we are going to miss the best opportunity we have had for 40 years to do something about disadvantage in education.

"Coalition Education Spokesman Christopher Pyne said there would be enormous pressure on schools if the reforms were introduced.

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