Federal minister Simon Birmingham has fired the first shots in the latest battle of the school funding wars. Here’s Inside Story’s short guide to the terrain

With education ministers meeting this week to discuss school funding, a close look at the figures reveals large differences between states and sectors

Governments began watering down Gonski’s school-funding recommendations right from the start, says panel member Ken Boston. But New South Wales shows how it could have been. THE Gonski review is history. The Gonski panel submitted its report in December 2011, and the government responded in February 2012. There have been two federal elections since then...

Australia’s schools are not keeping up with the best in the world. There is a real problem, and governments must act. But the newly elected Coalition government must tread a fine line: good Commonwealth policy will not save Australia’s schools, but poor policy will damage them further. A big challenge for any Commonwealth education minister...

A strong and sustainable schooling system that ensures all children receive an excellent education matters for Australia’s future. Strong education outcomes result in better work and life opportunities for us all as individuals and benefit Australia more broadly through improvements to national productivity, workforce participation, stronger communities and economic prosperity. The Australian economy has experienced...