Parents of children enrolled at one Bendigo secondary college are paying as much as three times the amount of those attending other government schools in the city.
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It cost parents of Bendigo South East College students an average of $1113 to enrol at the school in 2015, data from education tracking website MySchool revealed.
In the same year, the city's three other government secondary schools - Weeroona College Bendigo, Crusoe 7-10 Secondary College and Eaglehawk Secondary College - charged an average of just $370, $420 and $476 respectively.
Parent contributions, which the MySchool website defined as "income received from parents for the delivery of education services to students", almost doubled since 2009 at BSE, the first year for which data is available.
The average contribution for each BSE student increased from $563 to $1113 in the seven years to 2015.
Asked about the rise in fees, former school council president Gavin Salvador said it could be computer hire fees or membership of elite sports and arts programs that accounted for the price hike.
But BSE parents have this year reported paying as much as $2000 for their student to attend school once uniform and additional costs, including Athlete Development Program and Academy of Creative Arts fees, are factored in.
While Weeroona school parent contributions rose by a similar percentage to BSE between 2009 and 2015, it amounted to a difference of just $180.
Average parent contributions at Eaglehawk grew by $158, while a $58 increase was experienced at Crusoe.
The Education and Training Reform Act permits school councils to set their own fees.
Data from MySchool shows school fees at Bendigo South East jumped by more than $500 in the seven years until 2015. Rises were less steep at Eaglehawk and Crusoe.
Asked how parent contributions could differ so dramatically inside one local government area, the education department pointed to its website, on which it explained: “It is common for schools to request different payments from parents because they offer different programs, go on different excursions and have different needs at school.”
“For example, some might want to start a student gardening program and others a photography program.”
The website also said the concept of a “free education” pertained only to the provision of teaching staff and school facilities.
The cost has not affected enrolments at BSE, which are almost the same now as they were in 2008.
The Bendigo Advertiser understands the Department of Education and Training is conducting a financial audit of BSE, although the department would not confirm that was case when asked on Thursday.
Mark Kearney
Journalist. Traveller. Pop culture connoisseur. Mark is passionate about education, the arts and social justice, especially stories affecting the LGBTI community.
Journalist. Traveller. Pop culture connoisseur. Mark is passionate about education, the arts and social justice, especially stories affecting the LGBTI community.
