SA: One-third of students go private

More South Australians are getting a private school education than ever before, according to the latest figures.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released this week show government school enrolments continue to decline.

More than 34 per cent of SA children now go to a non-government school - a trend reflected across Australia.

The ABS statistics for last year show there were 86,078 full-time students at non-government schools - 1367 more than 2005, and a 25 per cent increase from 1996.

Association of Independent Schools executive director Gary Le Duff said the increase showed that independent schools appealed to a diverse range of families.

"The enrolment growth and the diversity of school populations are what drive the necessary increase in Commonwealth funding to non-government schools," he said.

SA Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith said the State Government was working to restore parents' confidence in public schools.

"Public schools will this year have 2200 more students than had been predicted, with the decline in public school enrolments at only 0.6 per cent in 2006 compared to 1 per cent in 2005 and 1.3 per cent in 2004," Ms Lomax-Smith said.