Where do I stand on Corporate Fundraising for Schools? I am a firm believer that education, like health should be free, inclusive and universal so that all students have equal opportunity to reach their potential. As Principal of a school in a disadvantaged southern suburb of Adelaide, I can attest that this is not the case. While many schools charge parents hundreds of dollars in voluntary contributions, my school can only impose the minimum fees on parents and still many can’t pay. An extra $100 from 250 families would give the school an extra $25 000 to spend on learning programs. Our parent fund raising committee has a target of raising $6000. This would probably be less than the amount wealthier schools spend on raffle ticket books! The problem is that parents raise money in their own community. If the community is wealthy, the gains are great. A disadvantaged community has limited resources.

It is said that it takes a village to raise a child. It is imperative that education is supported by the community. The promotional schemes aimed at schools run by supermarkets at least puts money back into the school community in which the parents shop. It is a win win situation. Schools benefit from supermarket patronage. Obviously the wealthier the community, the more resources go to the school; the less to the less advantaged.

Until Gonski becomes a reality and school funding is put on a equitable, fair and just basis then any support from the community will be welcome. The gap between rich and poor never lessens though.