Former prime minister Tony Abbott expects there to be a "vigorous" debate in the party room over the Turnbull government's new school funding policy.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull faces a battle with states, federal Labor and the Catholic schools sector to secure his plan, dubbed 'Gonski 2.0' after being endorsed by the architect of needs-based funding, David Gonski.
About 24 rich private schools are set to lose federal government funding but 9000 schools will be better off.
Mr Abbott said it was hard to be against extra funding for schools, however he noted at this stage the extra cash was not necessarily tied to better academic outcomes.
"This is a very big change of policy the prime minister announced yesterday and it certainly hasn't gone to the party room," he told 2GB on Wednesday.
"I imagine this will be vigorously debated in the party room next week."
He was coy on what he would argue in the party room when parliament returns next week.
Mr Abbott said it had been "an article of faith" within the Liberal Party since the Menzies era that the party promoted parental choice in education and health care.
"I think it's very important that we maintain our traditional position as the party that respects freedom of choice in education," Mr Abbott said.
He believes the problem with schools is not a lack of money but they needed better teachers, more parental involvement, more academic rigour and principal autonomy.
