Media Release – Tuesday 18 October 2011
The Independent Education Union has condemned the Tasmanian Government’s funding cuts to non-government schools and the devastating impact the cuts will have on the students, teachers, and families that make up these school communities.
The Tasmanian Education Minister, Nick McKim today announced that the Tasmanian Government is stripping almost five per cent from the funding from non-government schools across Tasmania.
Federal Secretary of the Independent Education Union, Mr Chris Watt said it is not sufficient to acknowledge that education is the great enabler or that it can be transformative, governments must lead with action.
“Australian governments already spend far less than our international counterparts on education,” said Mr Watt.
“Cuts to school funding in Tasmania are effectively cuts to the future prosperity of the students and the state as a whole.
“Tasmania already funds non-government schools at a lesser rate than almost all other jurisdictions across Australia.
“It is just not good enough that Minister McKim is attacking education funding as part of a “saving strategy”.
“These cuts will put more pressure on working families and will threaten the jobs and working conditions of Tasmanian teachers and other school staff,” said Mr Watt.
Media Contact: Evan Langdon 0429 020 409 or elangdon@ieu.org.au