LOCAL parents are suffering "chaotic uncertainty" after a week of wide-ranging policy discussion on education funding.
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Federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne's announcement that the Gonski funding model would be scrapped in 2014 was itself scrapped on Monday when Prime Minister Tony Abbott recommitted to the scheme.
Karabar High School P&C president and Gonski supporter Dave Lavers stated prior to Mr Abbott's announcement that it was "difficult for the Karabar school community not to feel betrayed by actions that can only lead to a deterioration of education delivery within our community."
However he welcomed Monday's development and said "the important thing for us now is that there appears to be clarity on what is happening."
"The key thing here is that the government has listened ... and has focused on education," Mr Lavers said.
"Our students will now be better across the board and Australia is going to be a better nation for this," he said.
Also defending the Gonski reform was Member for Monaro John Barilaro, who said on Friday that "to do away with these arrangements would be disastrous."
"I acknowledge that the Federal Government has inherited the fiscal equivalent of nuclear winter, however I urge the Federal Education Minister to take account of what his State counterparts have been saying," Mr Barilaro said.
He too welcomed the Government's about face and said it would ensure additional funds for local schools.
"I welcome the Federal Government's commitment to lock in four years of schools funding for NSW, in line with the agreement signed with the Commonwealth earlier this year.
"Schools in the Monaro will receive $1,087,000, an increase of $578,000, under the NSW Government's Resource Allocation Model (RAM) for 2014 which incorporates the Gonski reforms," he said.
The announcement has also been met with praise from local teachers, parents and the wider education sector.
But President of the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of New South Wales, Sharryn Brownlee, said it was "surprising and disappointing" that the Gonski model was being challenged.
"There is still much to be done, and the goal posts continue to move as a result of the ongoing impact upon the world of rapidly changing technologies, new research-based teaching methods, the performance of other countries and growing community expectations," Ms Brownlee said.