THE Canberra Liberals have announced they will boost private school funding to bring ACT on par with New South Wales funding levels if elected in October.

Opposition Leader Zed Seselja says parents have the right to a genuine choice between government and non-government schools.

“The ACT currently has the highest proportion of non-government school students in any jurisdiction – and the lowest funding,” Mr Seselja says.

“A Canberra Liberals Government would increase recurrent funding for all non-government schools progressively, to eventually bring the ACT on par with New South Wales.

“This policy will cost $31.4 million over the forward estimates.”

But Minister for Education and training Chris Bourke has criticised the announcement, saying the Liberals are “deeply out of touch with modern education policy.”

“Their announcement shows that they don’t support fairer funding for government and non-government students,” he says.

“It shows they have ignored the Gonski Review – the biggest national reform in education in 40 years.”