UPDATE, Friday, 7am: New Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan said the Coalition’s schools package guaranteed choice and affordability for parents.
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“Our State schools and our non-government schools both provide excellent schooling across Wannon,” he said.
“The Government’s new model gives parents the ability to choose where their kids go to school – whether it be State, Catholic or Independent schools.”
Earlier, Thursday, 8pm: Warrnambool’s Emmanuel College principal Peter Morgan welcomed the finalisation of the deal.
“I am waiting to receive information about the additional funding to be provided to Catholic and Independent schools, but I am glad to hear a resolution has been reached so that schools can get on with their job and plan for the future with greater certainty," he said.
Under the plan, each Victorian independent and Catholic school student will receive about 23 per cent more in additional funding.
Earlier: Prime Minister Scott Morrison has struck a multi-billion-dollar peace deal with Catholic and independent schools.
The $4.6 billion package over a decade brings to an end a long-running war over the Gonski 2.0 school funding model.
"For students, this will mean the opportunity to get the best results from school. For parents, it will mean that choice remains affordable," Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
"For teachers, it will mean certainty of funding so they can get on with the job," he said.
Victorian Association of Catholic Primary School Principals president and Warrnambool’s St Joseph’s Primary School principal Michael Gray was unavailable for comment as he is currently on a study tour in Canada.
Comment is being sought from Emmanuel College principal Peter Morgan and a Ballarat Catholic Education Office spokesman.
Member for Wannon Dan Tehan, the new federal education minister, has been focused on the deal since taking over the portfolio when Mr Morrison became the Prime Minister.
The government will chip in $3.2 billion over 10 years from 2020 to fund changes to the way parents' wealth is measured, based in income tax data.
In 2019 independent and Catholic schools will receive $170.8 million over the calendar year.
A $1.2 billion Choice and Affordability Fund over 10 years will help keep fees affordable and maintain choice.
The deal brings to a head months of discussions with the National Catholic Education Commission and Independent Schools Council of Australia.
Mr Morrison had a clear message to any parents of state school students frustrated with the costly side deal struck with private institutions.
"I don't think parents will be cynical like that. They will know that we're funding public schools at record levels," he said.
"All parents want to have choices about how they educate their children, and where there are issues that need to be addressed, we'll address them."
Mr Morrison said where the money was coming from would be set out in the mid- year budget review due in December.