Labour promising to restore Bay night classes

PHOTO/FILE

Labour is promising to restore funding to the adult and community education sector in the Bay of Plenty, Labour's Associate Tertiary Education spokesperson Megan Woods says.

The sector has lost all but one of 15 night class providers after the Government cut funding of $1.5 million.

"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 these courses nationwide has plummeted from 212 to just 21," she said.

"In the Bay of Plenty, this has led to funding cut of $1.49 million, a 31 per cent drop since 2009. Five years ago there were 15 schools funded to provide night classes in the region, now there is just one.

"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. The Bay of Plenty will not be left out.

"The 2009 cuts made to ACE by National were short-sighted and have cost the Bay of Plenty community 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.