The Liberal Party’s claims about school funding have to be viewed in light of its commitment to cut billions from schools, the Australian Education Union said today.

“The schools which would be most affected by the cuts proposed by the Liberal Party are those in the most disadvantaged regions of Australia which are benefiting from the low SES National Partnership,” AEU Federal President Angelo Gavrielatos said.

“Not only have the Liberals ruled out delivering the $3.8 billion increase in funding for public schools recommended by the Gonski Review, they are proposing billions of dollars worth of cuts which would disproportionately impact on public schools.

“Christopher Pyne is worried about the certainty of funding for private schools but the only certainty he will provide public schools is that they would be billions worse off under a Coalition Government.

“This is a once in a generation opportunity for all politicians, including those in the Coalition, to support the changes in the way schools are funded that are necessary to set Australia up for the future.”