TERMS OF REFERENCE
INQUIRY INTO THE IMPLICATIONS OF PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL - FUNDING OF
GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
On the 30 May 1996, the Senate referred to the Senate Employment, Education
and Training References Committee the following matter for inquiry and
report:
The private and commercial funding aspects of government schools. In
particular, the Committee will:
1. Describe the nature and extent of fundraising mechanisms - such
as voluntary contributions, levies, sponsorships and other marketing
arrangements - used by government schools and their associated organisations.
2. Examine State and Territory policies and regulations regarding the
collection and use of private funds received by government schools.
The Committee will also assess the adequacy of existing State and Territory
legislation regulating such practices, and the implications, if any,
for the role of the Commonwealth.
3. Identify the purposes for which government schools raise and expend
private funds, and describe the impact of private revenue on the curriculum
and teaching resources deployed in those schools.
4. Assess the extent to which private funds contribute to differences
in the quality of curriculum and services between government schools,
and the implications of this for equity and access.
5. Examine the implications of an expanded private funding of government
schools for the implementation of the National Equity Strategy for Schools
and for the achievement of the National Goals for Schooling.
6. Consider the implications of increased private funding of government
schools on Australia's obligations under relevant international agreements
such as the Convention on Rights of the Child and the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.