BY MARG PERROTT

WOLLONGONG — Principals, teachers and local residents met at Woonona High School on February 13 to organise the a campaign to defend public education funding in the federal seat of Cunningham.

Following the announcement of the federal government's formula for the allocation of education funds, which favours private schools, the NSW Teacher's Federation — supported by the NSW Department of Education — decided to organise a public education support campaign with a national day of action on March 15.

Although the NSWTF campaign, as outlined to the meeting by NSWTF organiser and South Coast Labor Council president Peter Wilson, emphasises lobbying local federal and state Labor MPs, participants were anxious to make the March 15 action a meaningful political statement by teachers and school communities throughout the Illawarra.

Plans for deputations to local MPs, “chalk-ins” in the street by parents and students, marches and the hanging of banners at every school in the district were enthusiastically received.

Figures provided by the NSWTF proved how the federal government favours private education: the small Illawarra Christian School is to receive nearly $3 million, while the Illawarra Grammar School, the richest school in the district will receive $2.6 million (an increase of $1.5 million since 1999). Meanwhile, public schools in the Illawarra are struggling.

The campaign will be boosted with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Lake Illawarra teachers' strike on March 9. A meeting at Warilla High on February 20 will also discuss strategies and tactics for the campaign.

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