Deputy Leader for the Opposition Tanya Plibersek and Member for Shortland Pat Conroy visited St Mary's Catholic College in Gateshead today to see how Gonski funding has benefited schools.
Schools across the Hunter region have been able to provide specialised support for students as well as employ more teachers under the Gonski scheme.
St Mary's Catholic College is one of two schools in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese which is planning to introduce Years 11 and 12 over 2018 and 2019.
The Director of Schools for the Catholic Schools Officer of the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese, Dr Michael Slattery, said this extra funding is needed to provide the required resources, infrastructure and teaching staff needed to expand the school.
According to Pat Conroy, these expansions are being jeopardised by the Coalition Government's plan to cut $140 million in funding schools in the Hunter region.
Schools in the Shortland electorate are to see to miss out on $33 million of funding.
It is feared cuts to funding will result in fewer teachers and less one-on-one attention for students who require extra help with their study.
"This Government is refusing to confirm that it will fully fund years five and six of the Gonski's needs-based funding reforms as they promised to do," said Ms Plibersek.
"Under this Government, every child in every school in every system in every state will lose."
