More parents are enrolling their children in private schools than ever before, according to recent statistics.

Independent school enrolments have grown by 21.9 per cent since 1998 compared to a mere one per cent growth in government schools.

Mother of two, Dora Eracleous was willing to pay extra to send her oldest son James, 14, to an independent school.

She said that the local public high school did not offer the nurturing environment that is provided at his current school, De La Salle College.

“Kids in the state system don’t do the same things that kids do in the independent system – there is a difference in the facilities and the experiences offered,” she said.

“I guess you’re paying for it but it’s more tailored to their needs and you’re not just a number.”

School development manager of Alphington Grammar, Judy Fetter attributes the increases in her school’s enrolments to its supportive community, excellent student-teacher ratios, quality of teaching staff, and comprehensive subject options.

“Independent schools are highly accountable to their parent body and school council, which leads them to strive for excellence and improvements continually, not just to justify government benchmarks,” she explained. “This sense of community and motivation is less common in public schools.”

Assistant principal of South Oakleigh Secondary College, Helen Kozairis says she has a real bone to pick with the perception of superiority associated with independent schools.

“The education provided by state government schools is equal to any school- we cater for the education of every single kid that walks through the door,” she argued.

“Irrespective of where you go, you have same opportunity to learn if you choose to.”

Australian Education Union President, Angelo Gavrielatos blames the “corrupt Commonwealth funding system” for the dwindling public school enrolments.

Whilst he argues that public schools have been doing a remarkable job given their declining funding base, he acknowledges a difference in the facilities between the two systems.

“There was a conscious agenda on the part of (Howard) government to drive students out of public schools,” he said.

“The former Government’s own inquiry found that the funding system in Australia to be contributing to a deepening inequality. Currently the Commonwealth funding model delivers more than 65 per cent of recurrent Commonwealth funding to private schools in which only 30 per cent of student attend.”

Father of two, Elias Diacolambrianos sends both his sons to Coburg West Primary and is planning to send them to a state secondary school.

He acknowledges the alleged elitist divide and says that dwindling government school funding is a downright crime.

“I have friends who send their kids to a private school who aren’t doing any better than my kids who are in a state school system,” he said.

“But public schools have been starved of funding for years and most of the recent federal funding towards school projects went to private schools. I feel that’s what makes the difference between public and private.”

He went on to say that an overwhelming number of second and third generation Greeks are opting for public schools because, “it is the place that represents the mosaic of the society we are living in and has the values they aspire.”

“Private schools aim to individual advantage to the disadvantage of the many at a time where collective thinking is what is required,” he said.
“Religious based schools also promote differences rather that what unites us.”

The strong belief in the right to high-quality education for all children has driven Diacolabrianos and approximately 800 parents from Coburg and Pascoe Vale to lobby the Government to build a high quality secondary college in the area.

There are 22 primary schools in the area, but not one open-entry secondary school, explained Diacolabrianos who is currently in negotiations with the local state MPs.

The Government said that they would review the private school funding model next year. Known as the socio-economic status (SES) model, funding needs are determined according to the average wealth of the census district in which students live, rather than a private school’s actual resources.

“The new model (to commence in 2013) will provide the Rudd government with an opportunity to give true meaning and effect to their policy, which recognises that its primary obligation is to properly and adequately fund government schools,” said Mr Gavrielatos.