'Begging for chairs': Grant competition reveals schools' funding struggle

I'm getting very tired of the SMH's cynical scare campaign against non-government schools in relation to capital funding. Their reporting is so far from the truth its not funny. The reality is that about 90% of capital funding for independent schools comes from fees, donations and loans - governments only contribute 10% of total capital funds - see https://lnkd.in/fR5au9u. In 2017, the total capital expenditure by independent schools was $1.98 billion of which $1.78 billion came from fees, donations an loans. In other words, government contributed about $200 million in capital funding to independent schools. By contrast governments paid $2 billion in capital funding to government schools in 2016-2017 financial year - https://lnkd.in/fPwFzb7 There is inequity but it is the other way around - independent schools educate 35% of all students in Australia (41% of secondary school students) but receive 1/10th of the government funding for capital works! https://lnkd.in/fp3z8XU