Local schools are facing financial pressure due to increased teacher wages.
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Schools across the region are facing increasing financial pressures, leading to concerns about increased school fees.
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Goulburn Valley Grammar School is one school proposing to increase its 2027 fees in response to what it says are “several significant financial matters”.
In a letter sent to parents by board chair Fiona Merrylees, the independent co-educational school partially attributes the decision to increased teacher wages.
It comes after the Victorian Government awarded state school teachers between 28 per cent and 32 per cent salary increases over the next four years. Those increases have led to concerns at Victoria’s Catholic schools, which have proposed fee increases, staff redundancies and subject cuts.
In response, The News contacted all schools in Shepparton, Mooroopna and Tatura to see if they planned to increase their school fees in 2027.
In its letter, Goulburn Valley Grammar outlines several other financial pressures that have contributed to its decision to increase fees.
It reveals changes to its government funding model will see funding per student in both dollar and real terms decrease in 2027.
It also points out that other costs have increased.
The school says its board expects to be able to confirm its fee structure for 2027 in late September.
Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Rachel Holthouse highlighted some of the issues affecting non-government schools.
“Schools are facing significant financial pressures, including rising teacher salaries and operating costs,” she said.
“We regularly engage with government on funding and policy settings, and advocate for sustainable arrangements that support the important contribution that independent schools make to Victoria.”
Goulburn Valley Grammar board chair Fiona Merrylees.
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Bethanie Sessions
A spokesperson for Catholic Education Sandhurst, which represents the region’s Catholic schools, said it was determined to keep any fee increases as low as possible.
Fee increases would not exceed 6.7 per cent in 2027, CES said. However, it noted fee increases at many schools were expected to be lower than that.
A spokesperson for the Victorian Department of Education said: “All students in government schools receive free instruction and have free access to all items and activities needed for the Victorian Curriculum.
“While public schools can invite families to make a voluntary financial contribution, families can opt to pay all, part of, or none of the suggested contribution.”
Goulburn Valley Grammar was contacted for comment.
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