Community
12 December, 2025
Funding cut for P-12s
PREP-12 schools across the state are calling for the reinstatement of the P-12 complexity allowance after the State Government announced a 100 per cent cut of the funding over the next four years.
Among the schools impacted is Derrinallum P-12 College, which is located at least half an hour away from the nearest secondary school in Camperdown.
Principal Caitlyn Fitzgerald said she, like other P-12 college principals, was disappointed by the announcement, particularly with no consultation occurring.
“A P-12 has many complexities, and Derrinallum faces even more, being rurally isolated and difficult to staff,” she said.
“Our college uses funds such as this to ensure that our students’ learning experiences are not compromised due to small numbers or locality.
“Reduction in the funding limits our ability to flexibly staff programs from Foundation through to Year 12.
“We have raised our concerns with Minister for Education Ben Carroll and are supporting the Country Education Program (CEP) P-12 alliance.”
Among the concerns being raised with P-12 school funding cuts are reduced Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) subject offerings, decreased capacity for one-on-one learning support and compromise student support programs.
Member for Polwarth Richard Riordan was among MPs calling on Mr Ben Carroll to fully reinstate funding.
“These are schools that provide an essential service to what are relatively isolated communities,” he said.
“They are complex because communities and country towns ebb and flow a lot – one year they have got a lot of students in prep, next year they have got no-one in prep.
“Sometimes they have got four or five kids in Year 12, then there are none.
“What this funding cut does is take away the flexibility that the principals in these schools desperately need to keep providing good quality ongoing education in regional Victoria.
“This state allegedly calls itself the Education State – in fact, we are forced to drive around our communities with ‘Education State’ written on our numberplates.”
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