Protest held over funding cut to night classes

3 comments | Post Comment

Print Text Size:

Around 300 teachers and students marched on Parliament in protest to a funding cut to adult community education

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:00a.m.

By Dan Parker

Around 300 teachers and students have marched on Parliament to demand the Government reverse a funding cut to adult community education.

The cuts will see 80 percent of the budget slashed for night classes, around $16 million.

Protesters say that will affect 220,000 students nationwide and spell the end for subsided adult education.

"I think they have underestimated the anger and the feeling the strong sense of feeling that's out there," says night class co-coordinator Robyn Hambleton. This is just Wellington. We have had messages of support from all over the country."

The protesters invited Education Minister Anne Tolley to address them, but she refused to leave the house.

The opposition then offered Ms Tolley leave, but that was also turned down.

"It looks like adult education in the future will only be the province of the wealthy," Ms Hambleton says. "The schools that seem to be continuing are those in high decile areas. The schools that really need to continue can't afford self-funded courses."

If the protest proves fruitless, a 100-year-old tradition of night classes in secondary schools will end in 2010.

Tomorrow representatives from adult and community education will meet with Ms Tolley for their first official chance to plead their case and try and get full funding reinstated.

3 News

Become a fan of 3 News on Facebook and on Twitter.

Comments [3]

Andrew

05 Aug 2009 7:15p.m.

Henry misses his own point. Private schools take some of the load off the state system and are rightfully recognised for this by way of subsidy. Long-suffering parents and grandparents who pay school fees are also paying their taxes which just happen to go toward education spending by central government. Is that not paying twice? It is unquestionably their choice, but you don’t hear these people complaining. Its only the us and them brigade and those remnants of socialism who subscribe to the politics of envy. Socialism may be dead but the free education myth is alive and well.

Henry

05 Aug 2009 10:48a.m.

JD misses the point, that the 13 year old is already using ACE to become a lifelong learner. She can certainly teach himself/herself wine appreciation but she wouldn't be very good at it. And if we all broke out into spontaneous dance we'd all be a fitter and happier people.

The Govt. talks about lifelong learning as a focus but then cuts Night School off for thousands of people. At the same time it gives millions to Private school. Surely JD would agree that we have free education so if people want to go private they should be prepared to pay (at market rates) for the privilege. They're not paying twice as some claim they are choosing not to use a system that is free. ACE system gives thousands of people the chance to upskill in a variety of areas, it also allows many people to meet and network in various areas of interest.

I'd also be interested to know how JD feels about paying Bill English's mortgage on top of paying him quarter of a million dollars a year.

05 Aug 2009 9:39a.m.

Having just read the article on the 'Stuff' website pertaining to this protest yesterday, they asked a 13 year old why she was there; her answer was that she had just finished a course in the sport of fencing and hopes she gets a chance to take more courses. "I really love swords and the fencing class gave me the chance to pursue my interest. I am so gutted that the funding has been cut.” Looking in the local paper, one can see the local schools are running evening classes in such wonderful subjects as yoga, tap dancing, Mediterranean cooking and wine appreciation. There is the argument that these types of courses help built skills people need to get jobs. Wait just a minute, what does this 13 year old want to do, become one of the three musketeers. Wine appreciation, I can sit down with friends, open a couple of bottles of a Hawkes Bay red and appreciate it quite happily whilst watch a good movie and pizza. God help us all if the streets suddenly fill with spontaneous tap dancing. Why on earth should the rest of the New Zealand taxpayers have to fork out for your little pet interests and hobbies, get real.