Under the previous government, the scheme involving three fundraising dollars to one department dollar had been well used by wealthy communities to build impressive technology centres. This has now been disbanded in favor of an annual Information Technology grant to all schools, based partly on an index of disadvantage. In my own school there are significantly more funds in the Special Learning Needs Index. But the lessons of the past have been well learnt. The bean counters are still in charge.
Funds provided for professional development are infinitesimal compared to what schools spend.
The budget line of Teacher Support, which funds program needs, cannot be sustained without a healthy local fundraising program and voluntary school levies. However, at least such issues can be debated in an open forum. The offensive clamp on principals making public comment has been lifted. Country principals, always the poor relation, had to drive themselves, I can vouch, to the Regional Office. Recently there has been another significant shift in the playing field.