Support for teachers urged

BY GAIL LORD

SYDNEY -- One hundred and seventy people, angry at the diversion of federal and state funds from public to private schools, were urged to support the NSW teachers' industrial campaign and calls for legislative changes to state education funding at a forum in Penrith on May 16.

NSW Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon asked for support for her party's Education Amendment Bill which would, if passed, end per capita state funding to wealthy private schools and add $40 million to the Disadvantaged Schools Program.

Currently, the NSW government gives $411 million funding to private schools each year; these schools also receive $3.7 billion from the federal government. While this funding is financing massive expansion and capital works projects in private schools, NSW public schools have experienced a 26% cut in capital expenditure over the past three years.

NSW Teachers Federation president Sue Simpson urged people to support her union's struggle against education cutbacks, and for decent pay and conditions for teachers.

The forum, organised by the regional council of Western Sydney Parents and Citizens Associations and the NSW Teachers Federation, announced the formation of a State electorate public education lobby group in the western Sydney region, following the success of a similar group in the Campbelltown area.

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