Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • Free Essays • My Term Papers • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Education Public vs Private Education in Australia Public vs Private Education in Australia Every one in Australia wants the best education for the individual. The question is which one. Public or Private ? Education is one of the most important factors in determining what a person will become as a member of Australia's society. Because education is so important there are many questions that are asked for which is the better. Government School: one administered by the Department of Education in each State/Territory Non-government School: (private school) any school not administered by the Department of Eduaction, but including special schools administered by government authorities other than the State/Territory Education Department School: an educational institution which provides primary or secondary education on a full-time daily basis, or by radio or correspondence Over the past decade there has been a enrolment drift in education from public schools to private schools. In the year 2001 this enrolment drift has continued. In 1980 there were 78% of all students in public education, but last year there were less than 69%. There are a total of 2 248 275 students in public schools (ABS 12/02/2001). While Australia only has 69% of all students in public education, the United States and the UK have 90% of all students in public education. Over the past decade there has been a increase in enrolments at private schools.There has been a steady increase of enrolments in private education. In 1980 there was only 22% and in 1990 there was 28%, and in the year 2000 there was around 31% or 999 181 students in Australia attending a private school (ABS 12/02/2001). Year 12 retention rates across the board have had a continual increase. Year 12 retention rate: the percentage of full-time students of a given cohort group who continue from the 1st year of secondary schooling to Year 12. "The apparent retention rate of secondary students from Year 10 to Year 12 remained at the same level as the previous year at 74.4%. In 1990 the equivalent rate was 66.5%" (http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/ABS). The retention rates for public and private schools has not been as even. In 1985 the apparent retention rates for public schools was around 40% while private schools was around 65%. In 1995 public schools retention rates was around 66% while private schools was around 82%. ie. see appendix 1. Public schools apparent retention rates have increased over the years, but why are the rates still lower than private schools ? One reason could be funding given to public and private schools. Australia is ranked 19th of 26 OECD countries in terms of expenditure on education. Australia is also ranked 55th in the UN league table of spending on education. The amount of funding a public school receives can also effect the amount of students attending that school. " The Commonwealth's State grants report and budget estimates papers reveal that the proportion of federal government funding going to public schools in 1996 was 41.5%. It is estimated that by 2004, federal funding to public schools will be slashed to 34.1% (or $2 billion a year) " (Kemp's bill rips off public education. http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2000/429/429p9.htm) Why has there been such a slash in funding to public schools in Australia ? The reason is because the Australian government is siphoning it into the private sector. Between 1975 and 1995 Australian non-government school spending had increased by 171%, while government school spending only increased by 49% (ABS 1996). Government funding for private schools is unique as it is the highest in the world. In 1996 the proportion of federal government funding going to private schools was 58.5%, and it is estimated that by 2004 it will be 65.9% (or $3.9 billion) In the new federal funding plan, there will be a total funding of $22 billion. Public schools will be receiving $7.7 billion while private schools will be receiving $14.3 billion, this means that private schools with only 31% of students will receive 65% of Commonwealth funding. With this new federal funding plan there will be winners and losers. The obivious winners will be 62 elite private schools receiving over $800 000 while public schools will receive less than $4 000 each. ie see appendix two There has been a report titled:- "What Parents Want from their Children's Education in Independent Schools". This report looks at why parents are choosing to send their children to private schools. "Most parents said it was because they thought their children would be more nurtured and emerge as well-rounded, self-disicplined individuals. Other factors included cost, religion and location" (The great debate: public vs private schools. http://www.aca.ninemsn.com.au/stories/460.asp). The report also stated that "parents have suggested that children receive more attention and have more experienced teachers at a non-government school" and "parents wanted their children to mix with "decent kids" and be introduced to "the right people" ( The great debate: public vs private schools. http://www.aca.ninemsn.com.au/stories/460.asp). Strong criticism was aroused from this report, with senior students from Oakbank Area Public School in South Australia stating that "it's not the type of school you attend but the type of person you are that matters" and "it's up to individuals whether or not they achieve, not the school they attend" ( The great debate: public vs private schools. http://www.aca.ninemsn.com.au/stories/460.asp). There are many different attitudes towards public education in Australia. Many of these are preconceptions which the public schools can find to be very frastrating. Along with anything in Australia it has it's positives and negatives. To view these positives and negatives refer to appendix three. To view the positives and negatives for private schools refer to appendix four. More students in Australia today are moving away from public education and into private education because private education is perceived to offer more job opportunities for the individual. Bibliography: (2000),"Queensland Teachers' Journal",Protecting Public Education, 31 August 2000,p 6. Bagnall, D.(1999),"The Bulletin",Values-added education, Sydney,AVP Publishing Pty Ltd, 24 August 1999,pp 20-25. Commonwealth of Australia,(2001)."Australian Bureau of Statistics",Education and Training, http://www.abs.gov.au/ (16 May 2001). Commonwealth of Australia,(2001)."Australian Bureau of Statistics Book",Education and Training. Fordham, B.(2000),"Ninemsn",The great debate: public vs private schools, http://www.aca.ninemsn.com.au/stories/ 460.asp (1 May 2001). Gauci, J.(2000),"Kemp's bill rips off public education", http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2000/429/429p9.htm (13 May 2001). Word Count: 960
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