Night-class lobbyists to tackle minister

Anne Tolley. Photo / Supplied

Adult and community education (Ace) representatives hope to convince Education Minister Anne Tolley to reverse funding cuts they deem "educational sabotage" when they meet her tomorrow morning.

Maryke Fordyce, president of the Community Learning Association through Schools (Class), says she has been trying to sit down with Mrs Tolley since a cut of 80 per cent of community education funding was announced in the Budget.

She believes the decision was "made in haste" and is concerned about the lack of consultation with stakeholders.

"Over 100 years of night-class history is at stake," Mrs Fordyce said.

"The Government has underestimated public fury on this issue ... it's tantamount to educational sabotage." Class represents the 212 schools that provide night classes and the more than 200,000 students who enrol each year.

Tomorrow three representatives will ask the minister to reconsider the decision, reinstate the funding for next year, allow a review of its adult community education classes and present a renewed programme at the end of 2010.

Mrs Fordyce will also ask Mrs Tolley to clarify which courses are likely to be saved by the remaining 20 per cent of funding.

Guidelines suggest courses will need to prove an 80 per cent completion rate, that half of their students did not speak English, half of the class was made up of Maori or Pacific students or that half had no formal qualification.

The criteria has caused widespread confusion and Mrs Fordyce said rumours suggested English for speakers of overseas languages, te reo and sign language would continue to be funded.

Mrs Tolley maintains the Budget prioritises money for literacy, numeracy and foundation skills because these offered the highest likelihood of helping participants go on to tertiary study or into the workforce.

The Budget decisions will reprioritise a total of $67 million in Ace funding over the next four years.

Yesterday the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) released a report on building the educational infrastructure for economic recovery which said adult and community education was central to job creation.

PPTA president Kate Gainsford said community education provided "a really good scaffolding for people to be upskilling". It allows people to have a go without it being a huge burden on the nation or themselves."

A protest march is planned from Wellington High School to Parliament this afternoon.