Thursday, 2 May 2024

Education funding

Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (19:02): (870) My question is for the Minister for Education. Having no-means tests is designed to help public school students. Despite being the Education State, Victorian parents are required to pay hundreds of dollars every year for basic services and equipment for their kids while other states provide such services for free to students. So the action I seek is for the minister to provide Victorian students with more financial aid for basic school equipment and for services in 2025. New South Wales students travel for free on public transport on school days, while Victorian students spend around $720 a year to catch public transport. Secondary students in the ACT are given free Chromebooks, while Victorian students are forced to pay hundreds of dollars for a new laptop. In Queensland public school students receive an automatic annual textbook and school resource allowance of up to $337, while some parents are expected to pay $1500 for their child’s new device and textbooks. A no-means test to help Victorian public school students is offered through State Schools’ Relief, and devices, textbooks and other resources are not included – families must seek assistance from their school. Some students in rural and regional Victoria are offered free public transport and other services such as breakfasts, uniforms and glasses; however, these forms of service are only available to certain areas or eligible students. Relief is not being provided for big expenses such as books, devices and public transport, which cause most stress to families, and some university students are having to choose between buying groceries and paying for public transport. Minister, why are textbooks and devices not included in State Schools’ Relief funding? Why don’t Victorian students have access to free public transport on school days? Why isn’t the Education State making it easier for Victorian students to access their education?