Bronwyn Hinz from the University of Melbourne says while Labor’s plan to give schools discretionary grants of up to $100,000 if they improve their students’ literacy, numeracy and attendance is a good policy, it could be much better.

"Schools are already have enormous incentives to improve student outcomes - including school reputation and their passion for education – incentives enhanced by the MySchool website which compares them with schools around the country," she says.

 "We don’t need more incentives. We need more support for those schools with additional challenges, to bring them up to higher levels. Targeting the money where it’s most needed would do more to close the gaps between high and low performing schools."

Bronwyn Hinz , 
School of Social and Political Science & Melbourne,
Graduate School of Education University of Melbourne