Federal Budget fails to deliver adequate education funding measures

AUSTRALIA – The Australian Education Union (AEU) said the Federal Government’s Budget has failed to allocate adequate targeted funding measures for COAG’s­ Compact with Young Australians and National Youth Participation Requirement, announced on 30th April, 2009.

“We welcome the government’s commitments to provide guaranteed education and training places for all young Australians under the age of 25, and the establishment of targets to lift year 12 retention rates.

“However, regrettably the government has not been forthcoming with adequate funding measures that give true meaning or expression to these important initiatives,” AEU federal president, Angelo Gavrielatos said.

“The Budget does not provide adequate funding for the required additional TAFE training places; or any level of income support for young Australians while they are training.

“Furthermore, the Budget also fails to provide any additional targeted funding to enable the country to achieve a 90 per cent retention rate to year 12 or its equivalent by 2015.

“Prior to the global financial crisis Australia’s skills shortage was pronounced. The success of Australia’s recovery will rely on a strong skills, education and training base. Governments must invest in our future now.

“In terms of the underlying trends in the Budget, private schools still continue to receive two thirds of the Commonwealth Government’s recurrent funding for school education.

“This underscores the importance of the government announced 2010 review of schools funding. The review must deliver a fairer schools funding system, which recognises the primary obligation of governments to properly and adequately fund public schools,” Mr Gavrielatos said.