Educators get hearing but little hope of funding cuts review

Despite wide protests, Anne Tolley says the $54m cut in this year's Budget will not be reinstated. Photo / Supplied

Education Minister Anne Tolley met a group representing community educators yesterday but was unswayed by their plea to reinstate funding.

In May's Budget $54 million was cut from adult community education, with the Government saying it paid for hobby courses.

But critics claim the cut leaves only $3 million for community education from next year, making parenting courses and other valuable education no longer affordable.

Community Learning Association through Schools (Class) representatives met Ms Tolley after repeated requests for a face-to-face opportunity to put their views.

"We had a full and frank discussion," said Class president Maryke Fordyce. "We have put our concerns on the table. She listened, she offered her side of the story and we have left her with a very strong plea to reconsider and reinstate the funding."

However, Ms Fordyce said Ms Tolley repeated "the usual party line" that there would not be a reinstatement of the funding.

Another Class representative, Linda Melrose, a co-ordinator at Onehunga High School, said community education provided large benefits with about 200,000 taking courses each year.

"We made it really clear to her it was only 0.6 per cent of the total tertiary education budget and she did take that on board but she was clear that there was not a cent the Government has left over for more spending."

Ms Fordyce said the group was not giving up.

"Always have hope, yes. We are really concerned for our communities. The local community, the people at home ... there's a huge amount of people that will miss out because of this decision."

Ms Melrose said the minister was aware of concerns around the country.

"One of the reasons the meeting came about was because she acknowledged she had had thousands of letters and had heard a lot from communities from around New Zealand."

The meeting followed a protest on Tuesday when about 200 people braved a Wellington winter's day.

Protesters said the cuts would mean affordable night classes provided through secondary schools would have to end and people would only be able to get more expensive courses through polytechs and universities.

Ms Tolley had earlier said the Government was spending $124 million over four years on adult and community education focusing on literacy, numeracy and employment.

- NZPA