A campaign to extend the state government's School Saving Bonus payment to all school students is being stepped up.
Shadow parliamentary secretary for education and member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath said the scheme was "blatantly unfair" by providing $400 for each student at government schools but "rigorously restricting" it for those at independent schools.
She is urging families to back the campaign to expand eligibility by responding at http://fairschoolsbomnus.com.au/
Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale Paul Velten followed up earlier criticism of the criteria for payment of the bonus by stating last week that despite strong representations from Catholic education since the announcement in the state budget it was disappointing that "Victoria is the only state where cost-of-living payments are not distributed equally but based on what school a child attends."
He said 82 per cent of some 16,663 students attending 45 schools in the Diocese of Sale were missing out on much needed support.
The Catholic education system, principals and parents are frustrated with the government declining to make any changes but the sector would continue to engage with the government to ensure policies do not discriminate against Catholic school families and is grateful for the support of the Liberal-National opposition, Mr Velten said.
At some low fee Catholic schools more than half students were from disadvantaged families but because the School Saving Bonus was strictly means tested for Catholic and independent schools only a small percentage would be eligible to receive it.
Ms Bath said concerned parents speaking at an Upper House inquiry into education were frustrated with the state education system and were turning to low fee paying independent schools.
"Chronic teacher shortages and fundamental pressures in public education were resulting in many families voting with their feet and moving their children to private schools in regional areas".