Australia’s high school education system has just made the global list for something no one wants: the most expensive. With the cost of sending a child to school in Australia four times higher than the OECD average, families are feeling the pinch more than ever. Here’s why it’s happening, and what it means for Aussie parents.
The Shocking Price of Education
According to a new report by the Australia Institute, the average Australian family spends around $4,967 a year to send a child to public high school. If you think that’s steep, private high school fees can hit a staggering $55,000 per year, making Australia the most expensive place in the developed world for high school education. For comparison, the OECD average for high school fees is far less, sitting at around $1,300 per year, reports 9News.
So, Australians are not just paying more — they’re paying a lot more, and that’s without even factoring in the cost of things like uniforms, books, and extra-curricular activities. The private school sector is a huge contributor to this price spike, with more than 40% of Australian high schoolers attending private institutions, a number that is predicted to climb to 50% by 2055. This is a stark contrast to countries like the United States, where only 9% of high school students attend private schools, or the United Kingdom, where the figure is just 8%.
The Growing Divide Between Private and Public Schools
It’s not just the tuition fees that are concerning; the disparity in quality between public and private schools is also raising eyebrows. The Australia Institute found that, despite private schools charging exorbitant fees, the quality of education isn’t necessarily better. Much of the difference in academic performance between private and public school students can be attributed to factors like socio-economic background, access to tutoring, and parental education levels, rather than the teaching itself.
It raises a valid question: Are we paying for a perceived difference in quality that doesn’t actually exist? The funding imbalance is also a major issue. Public schools in Australia are underfunded by more than $4 billion, and this gap only widens as the private sector continues to grow. Many private schools receive taxpayer funding but still charge parents astronomical fees, leading to criticism from Richard Denniss, the co-chief executive of the Australia Institute. He’s called the system a “two-tiered education system”, where the wealthier benefit disproportionately from public funds.
What Needs to Change?
With the price of education continuing to rise, something’s got to give. Denniss suggests that redirecting funds from wealthy private schools to public schools could help even out the playing field and reduce costs for families. He points out that countries like Norway outright ban private schools from charging tuition fees if they accept public funding. Meanwhile, in Australia, the wealthiest schools are building facilities like indoor swimming pools and rifle ranges, all while relying on government support.
In the end, many Australian families are facing a difficult choice: should they stick with the public system, which is underfunded, or opt for a private education, which comes with a hefty price tag? With the cost of living already rising in Australia, this educational divide is becoming a significant issue for households across the country.
