As we enter the Christmas Holiday period in Australian Schools it’s time to reflect on some trends and wonder are we getting better. I know that’s a broader query but a recent Google link on my phone this morning got me to question the larger effects of parents drive to enrol their children in “private schools”.
Recent studies state:
In 2006, around 13% of Australian students were enrolled in independent schools. In 2023 this proportion had increased to 16%.
According to 2023 data, public schools still enrol the majority of students in primary (around 1.5 million students) and secondary (slightly more than one million students). Despite this, the proportion of students in public schools has been steadily declining. In 1996, 74% of primary students were in public schools, declining to 71% in 2006, and 69% in 2023. For high schools, the proportion of students in public schools has declined more quickly from 66% in 1996, to 62% in 2006 and 58% in 2023.
So What?
Its just parents exercising their choice on where to send their child to school – after all they have a choice – perhaps not all parents but a growing number do.
Compared to other countries, Australian schools have a high level of “socioeconomic segregation”. This means different types of schools tend to have students from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
The increase in students going to fee-paying private schools (even when the fees are not at the eye-watering level often publicised in the media), means we are seeing increasing segregation in our school system.
While differences in educational outcomes between individual students are to be expected given students’ varying aptitudes and talents, consistent and substantial differences in educational outcomes between groups of students is a matter of concern because it suggests the presence of structural barriers (Portes, 2005). Inequalities based on socioeconomic status (SES) or income are particularly prevalent, and in most countries of the world, SES is one of the largest predictors of academic achievement (Sirin, 2005).
If inequalities exist across schools because of this segregation it becomes an issue for us all for it impacts upon the life chances both economic and health of the greater proportion of students (our neighbours) who attend public schools.
Governments from all sides of politics in Australia continue to make policy decisions that promote this marketisation of schooling – parents make choices – inequalities continue to build (outcomes and resources).
It’s what we at Harvard Data Wise continue to “fight” against – inequalities! We know we make differences in those public schools we work in BUT it that enough. Its what I’m reflecting on right now as we plan for the January 2025 Harvard Data Wise Institute in Melbourne again.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00207152241227810
