Coalition must rule out cuts to public schools

The Australian Education Union has called on the Federal Coalition to quarantine public
schools from any budget cuts after revelations it is looking to slash billions more in
spending.

AEU Federal President Angelo Gavrielatos said the Coalition had already promised to
make more than $2.8 billion in school cuts that would disproportionately impact on public
schools.

“We know under a Coalition Government there would be no computers for schools, no
trades training centres for schools and no additional resources for students in
disadvantaged communities who need help the most,” he said.

“The cuts they have already proposed would mean fewer teachers, less individual
attention for students and no new facilities and equipment. Their cuts would
disproportionately affect public schools and our most vulnerable students. The least
affected would be the wealthy private schools that the Coalition always puts first."

“One of the programs the Coalition has lined up to axe is the Low SES National
Partnership which is making a real difference for schools in disadvantaged communities.
Principals and teachers are reporting amazing results for students and schools as a
result of this investment which is funding teacher mentoring and training, new
technology, greater individual assistance for struggling students and expanded literacy
and numeracy programs."

“The Coalition’s education spokesman Christopher Pyne needs to immediately rule out
any cuts in education. We should be investing more in education, not less and the best
place to invest for our future is in our public schools.”

Coalition School Cuts So Far:

Trades Training Centres $1.1 billion
Computers in Schools $642 million
Teacher Quality National Partnership $425 million
Low SES Schools National Partnership $330 million
Rewards for School Improvement $160 million
BER funding $150 million
Online diagnostic tool for Parents and Teachers $37 million
Finance education program $8 million

Source: AEU Media Release