The Productivity Commission's latest report reveals a concerning decline in school attendance, rising school refusal rates, and an uneven distribution of funding in Australia's education system.
The Productivity Commission's latest report on education services paints a concerning picture for Australia's education sector, revealing a decline in school attendance rates to a decade-low and a rise in school refusal . The report highlights several key trends, including a drop in retention rates, with more than two out of ten students failing to complete high school through to year 12. Nationally, school attendance in 2024 reached 85.
9%, a continuous decrease across most jurisdictions except Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania. This decline is particularly stark for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, with a regular attendance rate of 76.9%, the second-lowest in a decade. The report also points to geographical disparities, with attendance rates dropping significantly for students in remote and very remote areas. Retention rates, which measure the number of students progressing from year 10 to year 12, have also fallen to their lowest point in a decade, reaching 78.7% in 2023. The report reveals a stark difference between public and private schools, with significantly fewer school leavers in the private sector. Public schools are shouldering the responsibility of educating students from disadvantaged backgrounds, yet historically, funding for the sector has lagged behind that of non-government schools. However, this year's data suggests a potential shift, with government recurrent expenditure on school education increasing by 4.4% in real terms. Importantly, the report emphasizes the need for a more equitable distribution of funding, particularly with the federal government aiming to reduce payments to historically overfunded private schools by 2029. The report also acknowledges positive changes in the childcare subsidy scheme, which have significantly reduced out-of-pocket costs for families, especially those with lower incomes.
EDUCATION SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RETENTION RATES SCHOOL REFUSAL FUNDING ISSUES AUSTRALIA PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION
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