Data released by the Australian Curriculum, Reporting and Assessment Authority revealed that between 2009 and 2018, funding per student in public schools increased by $4,201.

Independent schools received an increase of $7,229 in the same time, while Catholic schools funding grew by $5,470.

In 2018, government schools received $14,974 per student while independent schools received $21,979 per student, and Catholic schools received In 2018, Catholic schools received $15,020 per student.

Riverina organiser of the NSW Teachers Federation, John Pratt, told The Daily Advertiser he fears the equity gap will further widen with regards to the under resourcing of regional schools.

"About 60 per cent of all students in the state are going to public schools, so that's still where the majority are," Mr Pratt said.

"Public schools are also where the vast majority of learning needs are. It's where the bulk of Indigenous students, special needs students, rural and remote learners, English as a second language students, and low socioeconomic students.

"But it's not where the bulk of the funding and resources and help is going."

The equity gap, teaching advocates say, was never more noticeable than during the COVID-19 lockdown, when students ventured into home learning.

"Equity went straight out the window," said John Pratt, organiser of the Riverina branch of the NSW Teachers Federation.

"In places like Finland, we see that equity achieves excellence but we're going the other way, widening the gap between students and it's showing in our test results.

"What we're left with is a limited number of students being helped to achieve at their full ability while others are falling by the wayside."

When contacted by The Daily Advertiser, a spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education said every attempt had been made during the lockdown to resource students in the regions to study from home.

"Schools planned their learning from home packages taking into account what access students had to devices and internet at home," the spokesperson said.

"Some schools have provided completely offline packages while others have used a mixed approach."

Over the past nine months, the department has also provided up to 52,400 new computers to schools to aid in the transition to more online learning systems.

During the lockdown, the department sent out 8440 internet dongles to families across the state.

"Many students have their own devices and schools across the state had devices on-hand to loan out to those who don't have access to their own," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also said that schools had been encouraged to "use their discretionary funds to purchase equipment" during the lockdown, to ensure no student fell behind due to lack of resources.

"Teachers will continue to assess students and make any necessary adjustments to learning plans as they always do," the spokesperson said.

The under resourcing of classrooms also exists in less obvious ways, Mr Pratt said, with regards to the incentives available to keep talented teachers in the regions.

"We do have some good unis here with a lot of young grads coming to the Riverina, but we don't see a lot of professional development courses coming this way," he said.

"A teacher living in the Riverina often has to foot the cost of transport and accommodation, as well as having someone cover their classroom duties, if they want to attend a professional development course in Sydney.

"A teacher in Sydney does not face those kinds of challenges nearly as much."

Wage prospects are also problematic for teachers in the regions, Mr Pratt explained.

"In the city, they can often offer magnificent incentives that we just cannot offer in the regions," he said.

"A number of years ago, I knew of a brilliant music teacher. She was offered $20,000 more and a car to go work at an independent Catholic school in the city. That's a standout example, but it happens and we can't compete.

"Say if you were a drama teacher, you would also know that going to a private school, you will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, resources and a massive budget for your productions. Some schools even have an artist in residence. Public schools can't hold up to that."