Every time data is released about enrolment numbers in public and private schools, it’s closely followed by a chorus of squawking about the latter being for the wealthy elite.

But Australia continues to have one of the world’s highest proportions of students attending non-government schools, and the notion of school choice is firmly embedded in our education system.

Why do so many Australian parents choose a non-government school?

In 2004, John Howard caused controversy by saying that more parents are choosing non-government schools because the government school system is “too politically correct and too values-neutral.”

The situation is more complicated these days.