Australia

Described as the most far-reaching reforms in New South Wales (NSW) in a century, the education department is shifting significant responsibility from the head office to the principal’s desk.  Principals have greater autonomy to control staffing, finances, and maintenance at a local level.  Currently, principals manage only 10 percent of funds, but the plan would give them authority over 70 percent of their budget, delivered through two revenue streams – for staff and for equipment and maintenance.  Nonetheless, the NSW Teachers Federation expressed concerns about related budget cuts. “We fear for class sizes, we fear for staff numbers and the loss of specialist positions. This is a government hell-bent on making savings and making principals deliver them under the guise of autonomy.”