The ACT has signed up to the federal government push for more school autonomy without committing to "independent public schools" in the territory, disrupting one of Education Minister Christopher Pyne's election policies.
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In August last year, the Abbott government committed $70 million to sign up 1500 states and territor public schools to an "Independant Schools Fund" by 2017 to make public schools similar to the model in WA, where most have been given more decision-making powers over staffing and funding.
The ACT government agreed on Friday to accept nearly $1 million in Commonwealth funding to "enhance the autonomy" of schools – without agreeing for Canberra public schools to move towards becoming "independent" in replica of the WA model.
Education Minister Joy Burch said "the funding will be used to provide professional development and training for public school governing bodies, principals and school leadership teams" through their existing "empowering schools" program.
Glenn Fowler, secretary of the ACT Australian Education Union, said it was a win for the union, who had long campaigned against increased school autonomy, saying it would lead to overall funding cuts.
"The ACT has long had a high degree of autonomy at the school level and we think the balance is right. This announcement does nothing to change that balance," Mr Fowler said.
He said none of the $910,000 over four years in funding would go to any particular school and there was "no suggestion that any of our schools will become so-called independent".
South Australian Minister for Education and Child Development, Jennifer Rankine, also accepted the funding in June without agreement to move towards the WA independent public school model.
"SA schools need all of the funding they can get. While the funding from the IPS [independent public school] proposal – $5.5 million over four years – is a very small amount compared to the Gonski cuts, I told Christopher Pyne that I would take it," Ms Rankine said.
"I have told [Mr Pyne] SA would not establish a system of independent public schools, and I am pleased the already high level of autonomy in our schools has been recognised by the federal government in accepting South Australia's proposal."
NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said in February the NSW government had not signed an agreement with the Commonwealth to introduce independent public schools.
When asked whether this meant the government had backed down on his pre-election policy, a spokesman for Mr Pyne said the policy was still in play.
"The Coalition government is working with all states and territories to finalise the roll-out of the independent public school program designed to increase school autonomy and will be making an announcement in the near future," he said.