Ahead of talks today on the implementation of the Gonski model for school funding reforms, the Australian Greens are urging all Education Ministers to negotiate in good faith and collaborate to put the national interest first and foremost.

"All levels of government need to work together and focus on what this is really about: our children. We now need to get on with schools funding reform urgently," Greens spokesperson for Schools, Senator Penny Wright, said.

Visiting public schools in suburban Sydney today, Australian Greens spokesperson for Schools, Senator Penny Wright, has reiterated the Greens' call for the greatest amount of funding to be directed to public schools and for new money to be allocated to them as a priority.

"Today I have visited secondary colleges in the western suburbs of Sydney who are doing great work with kids and communities facing significant challenges. Working with the 'whole' child to enable their learning in the classroom requires extra staff and resources," Senator Wright said.

The Australian Greens will work with the Government to ensure that public schools, especially those most disadvantaged, will receive money first, to cushion the blow of the further delays in the new schools funding system announced today by the Prime Minister.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s formal response to the Gonski review into school funding, Greens spokesperson for Schools, Senator Penny Wright, said many public schools could not afford to wait for another six years to receive additional money.

Australia needs a fairer schools funding system.

The recommendations of the Gonski Review provide a once-in-a-generation opportunity to achieve this and establish an education system that is more equitable and will give all our children the best start in life.

In the wake of reports that the full implementation of school funding increases will be delayed until 2020, the Australian Greens have today called for the Government to increase funding urgently and announced five principles against which they will assess the Government’s expected formal response to the Gonski Review - and any subsequent legislation.

Australian Greens spokesperson for Schools, Senator Penny Wright, will be taking part in the Australia-wide Read for Australia event today to celebrate National Literacy and Numeracy Week and shine a light on the importance of all Australians receiving the best education possible.

"Good literacy and numeracy skills are among the most important things we can equip our children with," Senator Wright said.

Marking the start of National Literacy and Numeracy Week, Australian Greens spokesperson for Schools, Senator Penny Wright, today once again emphasised the importance of a properly funded and valued public education system.

 "We have so many enthusiastic and dedicated teachers in our public school system who work tirelessly every day to bring out the best in our children and prepare them for the world outside the classroom," Senator Wright said.

Dear friend,

Today, in schools across Australia, students in disadvantaged areas are up to three years behind their peers in wealthy areas. One out of every seven 15 year old students lacks basic reading skills.

We can start to address these gaps today.

It's been over six months since the ground-breaking Gonski Review of school funding recommended that Australian schools receive an extra $5 billion a year and proposed a new system that would finally fund schools according to the needs of their students.

Senator WRIGHT (South Australia) (14:20): My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth. Yesterday the Prime Minister told the independent schools association that all independent schools would receive an increase in funding under the government's plans. Will the minister make the same commitment to an increase in funding for all public schools?

The Government needs to make clear the extent to which all public schools will have their funding increased in real terms as part of the Gonski review of school funding, the Australian Greens said today.

Greens spokesperson for Schools, Senator Penny Wright said while the government today during question time stated that education was a critical priority, it is still not clear how funding for all public schools would be increased as part of Gonski.

"If the Government is serious about education being a priority, it has to make Gonski a priority," Senator Wright said.