6. Hon MARYAN STREET (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister for Tertiary Education
Will she consider reinstating the funding for adult community education for next year, allowing a review of its adult community education classes and presenting a renewed programme at the end of 2010, as called for by the adult education lobbyists, learners, and supporters who are marching on Parliament today?
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister for Tertiary Education) Link to this
No. The Government remains committed to adult and community education, and that is why we are investing $124 million into the sector over the next 4 years. We have had to make decisions to reprioritise some adult community education funding in order to fund tertiary education opportunities for younger New Zealanders, and I stand by those decisions.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
Does she agree with the report of the Post Primary Teachers Association on building the educational infrastructure for economic recovery, which stated that adult and community education was central to job creation; if not, why not?
I agree with some parts of that report, but I say again to the member that this Government remains committed to adult and community education. That is why, as I have just said, we are investing $124 million into it over the next 4 years.
Louise UpstonWhat evidence has she seen to suggest that tertiary education priorities in New Zealand need to be refocused?
The first piece of evidence is that New Zealand has relatively low participation rates of 15 to 19-year-olds in all types of education. The second is that although tertiary funding has increased substantially since 2000, the number of people completing degrees has remained constant over that time. We have to ensure that the limited tertiary education budget focuses our dollars and attention on lifting the educational attainment of young New Zealanders and on increasing the number of people achieving higher-level qualifications if we are to lift the economic performance of this country, which is this Government’s goal.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
Is the Minister aware that even the Prime Minister, John Key, when asked whether the Government had seriously underestimated the impact of adult and community education cutbacks on communities, has been reported to have said: “You’re probably right,” and will she now back down on her decision to cut that funding and get a real estimation of how important these courses are to people in our communities?
I always agree with the Prime Minister. We understand that people are disappointed, but many people I have talked to also understand that we are in very difficult economic times, which means we have to budget and prioritise where we spend our education budget. As I say, we are continuing to support adult and community education to the tune of $124 million. To the Opposition over there that might not seem a lot of money, but it is a great deal of investment by this Government in adult and community education over the next 4 years.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
Does the Minister intend to meet the adult and community education protesters today, given that according to her ministerial diary she has no engagements to attend today?