Cuts put study lifeline in jeopardy

Night classes at the local high school were Tiffany Tsai's lifeline when she arrived in New Zealand alone, and unable to speak English.

She took classes in English, accountancy and fitness and was introduced to people who have become dear friends.

Ms Tsai is one of 200,000 Kiwis who will suffer from the National Government's decision, in this year's Budget's, to deliver 80 per cent cuts to funding for adult community education (Ace).

She stands to lose an important social network and her job as an administrator at Onehunga High School's adult learning centre.

Onehunga High School and One Tree Hill College offer a combined night school which, with 4000 students, is one of the largest in the New Zealand.

The school's director, Linda Melrose, said the cuts would make it impossible for a large number of night school classes to continue and remain affordable for the large majority of the public.

Ms Melrose said Ace receives $16 million from the government, which equates to 0.6 per cent of funding for the tertiary sector.

She says it gives some of the most desperate members of society - those who have lost jobs, spouses, or who have arrived in a new country, for example - a chance to do something that makes them feel good and gives them new skills.

Deidre Shea, principal of Onehunga High School, said educators were shocked to hear the announcement.

"We are absolutely aghast and very, very hopeful that this will be able to be turned around for at least a year to allow any review."

Ms Shea said it made no sense to cut something that had contributed to communities for so many decades.

In 2005 Bill English told the Community Learning Association through Schools that community education played an important role in society.

"I recall my mother going off to night-time classes in furniture restoration, a quiet space in the busy life of a household of 12 children. There are a thousand stories about how human needs are met by the collective and aspirational activity of learning.

"The fact that the ideal is not always achieved shouldn't mean we abandon it," he said at the time.

But his Budget means that thousands of teachers and administrators stand to lose their jobs, and the 200,000 or so students who take night school courses will have no option but to pay full rates at the local polytechnic or university if they want to continue night courses.

Ms Melrose said for many families, the costs were unrealistic.

The cuts start in 2010.