MIL OSI – Source: Labour Party –
Headline: Canterbury hit hard by National’s cuts to night classes
National’s decision to cut nearly $2.5 million from adult and community education in Canterbury over the past five years was short-sighted and Labour is committed to restoring funding for the sector, Labour’s Associate Tertiary Education spokesperson Megan Woods says.
“The Government slashed funding for night classes in 2009 resulting in 90 per cent fewer classes being offered. Despite National’s assertions that night classes would survive, the number of schools offering night classes has plummeted from 212 to just 21.
“In Canterbury, this has led to funding cut of $2.48 million, a 62 per cent drop since 2009.
“Labour will provide funding of $13 million in the first two years of Government and a further $9 million in the following years for this important area of education. We will also provide $1 million a year for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses.
“Labour will work with the Adult and Community Education (ACE) sector to ensure funding is targeted to the areas offering the most value, Canterbury will not be left out.
“The 2009 cuts made to ACE by National were short-sighted and have cost the Canterbury communities and economy.
“ACE gives Kiwis the chance to make their lives better; be it through literacy and numeracy classes to improve their employment chances, computer training for new career options or ESOL classes to ease their settlement into their new communities.
“A 2008 study by PricewaterhouseCoopers found that for every government dollar invested in this sector there was at least a $16 return.
“At the time of the cuts, petitions calling on the Government to reverse its decision were signed by more than 53,000 people nationwide.
“National has ignored them but a Labour Government won’t. We will ensure that all Kiwis, young and old, born here or overseas, get a fair go at improving their lives through further education,” Megan Woods says.
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