Getting with Gonski: Australian Education Union president Angelo Gavrielatos, left front, with Cranebrook High School principal Deb Summerhayes, Australian Council of State School Organisations president Peter Garrigan and local teachers and principals at the Gonski Bus in Cranebrook. Picture: Gary Warrick
CRANEBROOK High School principal Deb Summerhayes said her school would benefit enormously from the Gonski Review.
The report, released last year, advocates an additional $6.5 billion in education funding and targeting expenditure towards school students' specific needs across the public and private systems.
"Cranebrook school is a diverse community and we cater for all of them," Ms Summerhayes said.
"We have 900 students; 13 per cent are indigenous, some have disabilities and a lot are from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
"With Gonski's recommendations we'd be able to employ more teachers and support officers for students and run more after-school programs."
Australian Education Union president Angelo Gavrielatos called on the federal and state governments to commit to Gonski now.
He was critical of both governments for delaying, but particularly of the NSW government for cutting education spending by $1.7 billion last year.
"Gonski found that existing funding arrangements were deepening inequalities, such that a three-year gap in educational outcomes exists between kids of different backgrounds," Mr Gavrielatos said.
"This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to correct that and secure the future of our nation."
Lindsay Labor MP David Bradbury said the federal government showed its commitment to Gonski by legislating for it last November.
"Labor believes every child in our community deserves a great education, regardless of where they live, where they go to school, their family background or personal circumstances," Mr Bradbury said.
But he said its implementation depended on a federal-state agreement.
"That's why I'm calling on the NSW Liberals to put aside politics and work with us on our plan for better schools," he said.
Penrith state Liberal MP Stuart Ayres said NSW supported the Gonski Review.
"NSW is investing more than $53 billion in education over four years," Mr Ayres said.
"Federal Labor is still stalling on details and has committed no money to Gonski to complement the O'Farrell government's record investment in education.
"It's time for them to give us the detail."