Education Funding to Communities slashed

Media Release
May 29 2009

Education Funding to Communities slashed

Adult Community Education (ACE) programmes offered through secondary schools are set to disappear after the budget announcement yesterday that current funding for such programmes will be withdrawn from January 2010. An 80% cut in funding has been announced in the 2009 Budget.

President of the Community Learning Association through Schools (CLASS), Maryke Fordyce says she has grave concerns for the future of adult learning across the country.

In these difficult times adults will have less access to community based learning opportunities. Cuts to funding will mean that community groups funded by schools will also miss out on educational opportunities.

The cuts will lead to job losses for over 200 co-ordinators and approximately 2000 tutors around the country.

Each year around 200,000 adults enrol in programmes offered by over 200 secondary schools all over New Zealand.

School based programmes are part of a wider Adult and Community Learning sector that delivers a considerable economic benefit to New Zealand. They are a lifeline for many people living in every community.

ENDS

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