Tag: independent schools

Victorian Catholic Schools Welcome Softening of Payroll Tax Levy but Remain Opposed to New Tax Policy

Victorian Catholic schools have welcomed the change in the upcoming payroll tax levy threshold but remain opposed to the additional tax. This follows backlash from the non-government school sector after the May state budget revealed that schools earning more than $7,500 (US4,972) per student would be charged an additional tax levy. This levy will go…


Victorian Private Schools to Foot an Additional $7M Under State Tax Changes

Victoria’s peak body representing the state’s independent schools has “expressed alarm” over the Andrews government’s payroll tax levy that could see private schools pay up to $7 million (US$4.5 million) in additional tax per year. This follows Victoria’s state budget, in which Premier Daniel Andrews said private schools have had “a sweetheart taxation deal” that…


Canadian Parents Increasingly Choosing Independent Schools for Their Kids: Study

Parents across Canada are increasingly choosing independent schools over government schools for their children, according to a new study by the Fraser Institute. Released on April 26, the study says the share of K-12 students enrolled at independent schools across the country increased in every province over a 19-year span, while the share of those…


Ontario Independent Schools More Affordable Than Commonly Believed: Study

A new report from an Ontario think tank challenges the common perception that independent schooling is “reserved for the rich,” looking at how the schools set their tuition fees and what they cost. The Cardus report surveyed principals from 21 schools in Ontario—representing more than 5,600 students—and found that there are at least five ways in…


Michael Zwaagstra: Let the People Closest to the Ground Decide Education Policy

Commentary All students deserve a quality education, regardless of where they live. However, it would be a mistake to assume this only happens when all students attend the same type of school. School choice is a strength, not a weakness, in our country. Much of this flexibility stems from the Constitution, which explicitly gives the…


Michael Zwaagstra: Government Monopoly on Curriculum Limits School Choice

Commentary Suppose you lived in a neighbourhood with several different grocery stores. If you don’t like what one store has to offer, you can just shop elsewhere. At first glance, it sounds like you have many choices. But let’s also suppose that each grocery store is required by the government to have an identical layout…


Independent Schools Have an Advantage in Forming Good Citizens

Commentary What makes a good citizen? Or, to put it differently, how are good citizens formed? This at the heart of both our democracy and the original purpose of our education system. In light of Canada Day celebrations and recent calls to reflect on Canada’s past injustices, such questions deserve reflection. How do we educate…