In short:
Victoria's Department of Education has directed state schools to remind families financial contributions to schools are voluntary.
asserted
contributions → direct → schools
A principals' association says the advice will reduce payments and put schools under extra financial pressure.
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advice → say → pressure
Education Minister Gabrielle Williams says access to state schools "has always been free".
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access → say → schools
Victorian principals are concerned new advice on parent contributions will leave public schools short.
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advice → concern → schools
The Department of Education has told schools they must tell parents that all curriculum-based instruction and resources, including textbooks, are free.
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instruction → tell → textbooks
"Victorian government schools provide free instruction.
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schools → provide → instruction
This means all students have free access to all items, activities and services that schools use to deliver the curriculum, including reasonable adjustments to support students with disability," a template letter seen by the ABC says.
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letter → mean → ABC
It says there is "no expectation or pressure for families to contribute" voluntarily.
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families → say → ?
Similar advice has been posted on the department's website.
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advice → post → website
Australian Principals Federation president Andrew Cock believes fewer parents will make voluntary contributions as a result.
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parents → believe → result
He said many principals preparing for next year had sent out letters calling for parent contributions.
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principals → say → contributions
"It's caused a great deal of angst and consternation," Mr Cock said.
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Cock → cause → angst
He said schools would always ensure families without the means to make contributions were supported.
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families → say → contributions
But he said schools relied on extra payments.
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schools → say → payments
"If there's less money available in schools, then principals are going to be forced to consider what are the programs, resources, experiences that they can afford," Mr Cock said.
"Ultimately they are going to have to make cuts."
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they → be → cuts
Education Minister Gabrielle Williams defended the guidance and said access to public schools had "always been free" under Labor.
"With the cost of living hitting families extra hard right now, the Parent Contributions policy was updated to make it absolutely clear that school contributions are voluntary," she said in a statement.
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she → defend → statement
Schools can still request voluntary contributions for learning items for children to take home, or extra-curricular activities such as sports carnivals.
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children → request → carnivals
Ms Williams said the government was also offering dental and eye checks, breakfasts, uniforms and period products to help reduce costs for families.
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government → say → families
Schools will no longer rent out devices
From next year schools will be unable to invite or allow primary students to provide, buy or rent a laptop or tablet for students to use at school.
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students → rent → school
The department said schools would give children free access to a device when needed to fulfil the curriculum requirements.
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schools → say → requirements
Mr Cock said this would be challenging for some schools.
"That's going to add some additional conversations in schools about how we provide digital learning to our students," he said.
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he → say → students
The department said secondary students who use their own devices are to ensure at least one nominated device option costs no more than $980.
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option → say → 980
Mr Cock said public schools did not have the money to pay for anything more than they already do.
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they → say → anything
"I think it's going to highlight the funding gap and the underfunding of our Victorian government schools," he said.
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he → think → schools
"Parents have traditionally helped fill some of that gap."
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Parents → help → gap
The Aporia