[Canberra chick]

I'm surprised this hasn't been posted already.

Gonski's report has recommended that children get a funding voucher, transferable between public and private systems.

This is exactly what Mark Latham was recommending over 6 years ago!

Anyone got thoughts on this? (a quick goggle will get you the info on what I've just said)

I think given the politics of Australian education, this is the best (least worst?) option to ensure equity of opportunity...

[katpaws]

There is a voucher system for LSES (low socioeconomic status) background students to enrol in higher education now.

No, i don't think the government is dealing with the achievement gap between LSES and H(high)SES groups. A similar situation is occuring in the USA.

Children should be assisted if they are failing academically at an early age and this is where the money (funding) should go.

[TherophosaBlondi]

I would really like to see an education system that means there is no need for the choice between public or private. Funding that sees education the same regardless of SES so that there is no need for people to send their kids to private schools.

Public schools that don't make fees "voluntary" but with a fair fee structure that has to be paid even if it is spread over the year paid monthly. Uniform enforcement with affordable options from Kmart, Target, Big W etc.

Funding for kids who need it without having to jump through the numerous hoops.

[MummaDiva]

Vouchers don't / won't / will never work.
It's a vanilla solution for a marbled world.
The monetary amount needed to educate a child from a LSE background with ESL issues, is not the same amount that would be needed to educate someone whose parents are both PhDs. Funding needs to be closely linked to the SES of the local area - with more funds going to schools that are actually dealing with the lower end of the spectrum, and not private schools that can choose NOT to enroll students that they don't wish to educate.

[chat]

Nothing intelligent to add but I must admit I find myself smirking a little when I hear 'gonski' report. Sorry....carry on

[Guest_Telmatiaeos_*]

Didn't they try this somewhere in the US and it didn't work? Can't remember the details. Will try to find it.

[Foogle]

Don't they also do this in one of the Scandanavian countries? - Not sure - off to Google.

[eilca]

Vouchers don't / won't / will never work.
It's a vanilla solution for a marbled world.
The monetary amount needed to educate a child from a LSE background with ESL issues, is not the same amount that would be needed to educate someone whose parents are both PhDs. Funding needs to be closely linked to the SES of the local area - with more funds going to schools that are actually dealing with the lower end of the spectrum, and not private schools that can choose NOT to enroll students that they don't wish to educate.

This sums up my thinking. It is a one size fits all approach for a system that is meant to value diversity and equity. So, it's a 'no' from me.

[Foogle]

It's Sweden that does this. Here's one article .

Off to do more reading on how it works...

[purplekitty]

Reading it this morning I thought one of the implications was it would counteract some of the economic differences between schools with a higher socioeconomic advantage and those without.
One of the things mentioned was fundraising by the school community would actually reduce government support so you would not see the huge differences between state schools in different suburbs.