Public Education: Australia's Future! Public schools are a foundation stone of our society. They are places of learning, of inspiration and opportunity where every Australian child can get the education they deserve.
It is vital for our future that we invest more not less in public education.
Join teachers and parents today in our campaign for stronger public schools.
Why Public Education Matters
For over 150 years public education has been a critically important part of Australian society.
Right from the outset our public schools were set up to provide opportunity for all. As former NSW premier Sir Henry Parkes said: “making no distinction of faith, asking no question about where a child was born, what may be his condition of life or what the position of his parents, but inviting all to sit side by side”.
The importance of public education has not diminished over time. Our public schools are as vital today to individuals, to communities and to our nation as they ever were. Here are ten great reasons why public education matters:
01Providing Opportunity for All. Only through public education can we ensure that every child gets the education they deserve.
02Delivering Quality Education. Australia’s public schools and their teachers are recognised as being among the best in the world.
03Meeting Every Need. Public schools do not turn children away. They educate all children whatever their learning needs.
04Promoting Equity. Strong public schools are the key to addressing inequality in our society. They give young people and families the chance to overcome social and economic disadvantage.
05Strengthening Our Society. Public schools help build mutual understanding between people of different ethnic, religious, vocational and socio-economic backgrounds. They promote tolerance and inclusion and build respect for diversity and difference.
06Driving Prosperity. The key to Australia’s ongoing prosperity is a highly skilled and educated workforce. Only through strong public schools we can achieve this goal.
07Helping Local Communities. Public schools are at the heart of local communities, bringing children and families together to share in the common goals of educating children and keeping communities inclusive and strong.
08Strengthening our Democracy. An educated population is the cornerstone of democracy. Our country’s well-being depends on the decisions of all its educated, informed citizens.
09Securing our Future. Children are our nation’s future. With strong public schools we can be confident of the education and development of the next generation.
10Providing a Voice. Through public school governing bodies and parent organisations people with children at public schools can have an active involvement in their child’s education, their local school and their community.