The Courier Mail has reported that independent schools in Queensland have posted their slowest student growth rate in more than a decade.

Citing preliminary February census data, the paper reported that state schools had reported a 1.8% lift in enrolments for 2014, while independent schools saw their enrolments grow 1.4%. This was the lowest growth rate for independent schools since 2002.

Independent Schools Queensland said financial uncertainty was partly to blame. ISQ executive director David Robertson told the paper that anecdotal evidence showed parents uncertain about their future were not enrolling children in independent schools because they weren’t sure they could commit to the schooling period. he said the improvement in state schools “could be a factor” behind its growth.