Page 895 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 16 March 2010
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The Australian taxpayer and parental contributions fund Catholic systemic schools, with the State and Federal governments providing about 80 per cent. The remaining 20 per cent comes from parents in the form of school fees, building levies and other charges.
Even after fees paid by parents are taken into account, there is a significant ‘resource gap’ between Catholic and State schools.
Fees charged by Catholic schools vary according to the diocese and type of school.
It goes on to say a few other things. If you were from a big Catholic family like I am and you were one of 10 kids, if you were lucky enough to have four kids in the same school at the same time the fourth kid was free. I was very pleased not to be a burden on my parents as the fourth child! I say that with a bit of a chuckle, but it is important, and the website points out:
Discounts generally apply for the second and third child attending systemic schools. A family’s fourth child and subsequent children are waived from annual fees.
So I was lucky enough to be that free kid—not a burden on my parents—for just a little while in primary school. But it does go to the heart of a very serious issue and I would just like to put on the record my appreciation for all the parents that are involved in the Catholic school community. Without them, that community would definitely struggle and perhaps even cease to exist. I look at the efforts that my parents went to for me as one of 10 children. Mum and dad forwent so many things so that each of us could go to a Catholic school, because they saw it as very important that we got, primarily, the Catholic education that was on offer there. Again, the website goes back to that:
Religious Education is an important component of the curriculum in Catholic schools. All Catholic schools are required by the Bishop of the diocese to implement a Religious Education program which is based on the teachings of the Catholic Church.
For those that seek that choice, for those that seek the reinforcement of what they believe in, we are very lucky in the ACT. The recent announcements concerning the Islamic school are an example of that. If you are of a faith and you wish to follow that faith and to assist your children in understanding that faith, the opportunities are there. That is certainly something that I am very grateful for and I would hope that my children will be very grateful for it as well, and indeed all the children who attend these schools.
The website makes quite clear the profile of the students in these schools. It is interesting and it should be read. It says:
The community profile of NSW and ACT Catholic schools is very similar to State schools in that they cater for students with special needs, indigenous students, students from diverse linguistic backgrounds, and students from rural and remote regions.
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