Howard starves public education
By Gary Zadkovich
Media Officer
Teachers in public education are dismayed by the Federal Government's recently announced budget, which confirms the Coalition's neglect of pre-school education, public schools and TAFE.
Maree O'Halloran, President of the NSW Teachers Federation, said today:
"In its budget, the Howard Government continues its unfair private schools funding bias, ignores the needs of 40,000 preschool-aged children, ensures there will be an effective cut of 50,000 TAFE placements and denies much needed funding for indigenous students, 88% of whom attend public schools.
"Clearly, this government is obsessed with privatisation. In the wake of the federal budget, the Howard Government is now planning to hand over an additional $7 million to private tutors and the unregulated coaching industry. Education Minister, Brendon Nelson, stated that 'the tuition credits will be administered by brokers following a request for tender'.
"With this policy, the Howard Government is set to introduce, for the first time, a voucher system which will be a direct subsidy to the private, for-profit, unregulated coaching industry. It has increased funding in real terms for literacy and numeracy programs by $21 million. Eighty one percent ($17 million) of that increase is to go to private schools, and another $4.5 million to 'non-government centres'.
"There are programs in existence, implemented by dedicated and experienced teachers, which have a proven record in assisting student literacy. The government's move is another attack on public schools and the outstanding work undertaken by teachers in the most trying of circumstances.
"Latham's budget reply failed to demonstrate that Labor valued public education. The Opposition Leader disappointed public school communities with the pledge to maintain private school funding at the existing, unprecedented levels. Nevertheless, the budget reply did promise that Labor would 'provide additional funds for government schools'.
"Unfortunately, the Leader of the Opposition did not provide funding details to back up this broad commitment.
"Public school teachers will continue to press the ALP for this detail.
"It remains utterly unacceptable for the Australian Government to spend more than 70% of its direct schools funding on the minority in private schools.
"For any Australian government to spend more money on providing a non-government education for a minority, rather than a public education for the majority, is simply preposterous."
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