Opening A Door
The Age Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Dear Editor,
If I were having a summit for the future, I’d think about social mobility in Australia. There is a simple reform, which could be called Open Door, which would quickly enhance opportunity for many disadvantaged children - with negligible cost.
Take any disadvantaged school child – be they Aboriginal, refugee, disabled, or in the lowest income decile. Then consider the $10,000 of taxpayer money being spent on their education. Now offer this funding to any willing school in any zone or sector – state, Catholic or independent – that the parent chooses.
Yes, some are happy where they are. But some will be able to improve their opportunity. What is more, the fresh breath of competition will invigorate a largely tired part of the school industry.
The beauty of this politically is that government does not have to judge schools. Parents of the disadvantaged would enjoy the dignity of being able to choose who shall teach their child.
Philip O’Carroll