THE region's schools will not be worse off financially according to Parkes MP Mark Coulton, despite claims by the NSW Teachers Federation.
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The Federation is urging the Coalition government to commit to the final two years of the Gonski schools funding model, with Dubbo organiser Duncan McDonald saying a failure to commit would cost schools in the Parkes electorate "tens of millions of dollars".
But Parkes MP Mark Coulton said it was a misconception, and the Coalition government would negotiate a new needs-based funding arrangement with the states in the "next year or so".
National figures released by the Federation after the Abbott government's first budget revealed schools at Dubbo would miss out on almost $24 million in the final two years of Gonski funding.
Dubbo College South Campus would receive $1.5 million less in 2018 and 2019, while Orana Heights Public be short more than $1 million. Dubbo Public School would miss out on $740,000 and Dubbo West Public would lose $860,000.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten announced the Labor Party's commitment to the funding, and Mr McDonald urged the Coalition to do the same.
"What we have been saying, with regards to the whole scheme, schools funding has constantly been a political football between major parties and we are calling on them to rise above that and commit to schools funding," Mr McDonald said on Monday.
"What Gonski means locally, the whole model itself is a needs-based funding model and it's a fair model in our assessment.
"It's a very sound model which says that whatever school you send your children to, regardless of where, children in need, if they have additional needs then they will attract additional funding."
Mr Coulton said the Coalition was committed to a needs-based funding model, and school's would know where they stood financially before 2018.
"We very much agree that education funding should be on a needs-based program and over the next year or so that discussion will go on with the states," Mr Coulton said.
"The needs of children across the country vary greatly depending on where they live, the socio-economic status of their parents and their relative isolation from different areas so you need a funding model flexible enough to cover that.
"It's not like we have to do this in a big rush now - that's a process... and [school executives] will know in plenty of time for their planning. We will be doing this through thorough management."
