In response to criticism of the Government’s selective use of statistics (Canberra Times, “Schools costings ‘misleading’”, p1, July 17) Minister Barr told the ABC that the Government’s numbers are correct, and the cost per student for some small schools is more than $19,000. Not some, TWO.
Minister Barr also issued a press release with yet more misleading statements. He quoted the difference between the average cost of schools with less than 200 students and those with enrolments of 400 to 600, and stated the smaller schools were 40% more expensive. And yet one fifth of the primary schools slated for closure have enrolments greater than 200, and in the very same press release was a quote which stated an ideal size for primary schools of 300-400.
So why didn’t Minister Barr compare schools of less than 300 with schools of 300-400 (or even 300-600)? Because the figures don’t look nearly as bad for small schools. The average per student cost for schools of less than 300 is $10989, and for those between 300-600 it is $8783. So the smaller schools are, on average, 20% more expensive. Half the figure Minister Barr quotes. Now can we start having a rational debate based on real figures?
Updat: Published in the Canberra Times, 19th July.
