Jewish Day Schools hit by O’Farrell cuts
The O’Farrell Government’s unprecedented $1.7 billion cut to the education system will undermine Jewish day schools NSW Labor John Robertson said today.
John Robertson
The O’Farrell Government has confirmed it will:
Cut $1.7 billion over four years from government schools, non-government schools
and TAFE colleges.
Cut public school budgets by $201 million over four years.
Freeze funding for Catholic, Jewish and independent schools – which translates into
a cut of $116 million over four years (comes into effect on July 1, 2013).
Axe 1800 jobs in education, including 800 TAFE positions.
Increase TAFE fees by 9.5 percent and abolish subsidies for selected courses.
“The cuts that Barry O’Farrell has announced will affect Jewish dayschools – just as they will affect
every school,” Mr Robertson said.
“Jewish parents choose dayschools for the valuable cultural and religious education that they
provide – and it is a tragedy the State Government will now withhold some of its funding
contribution.
“When a Premier promises that funding levels will remain sacrosanct and then cuts occur, the
community is entitled to feel badly let down.
“It is impossible to slash $116 million from religious and independent schools without affecting
educational outcomes.
“Principals at Jewish dayschools will find it harder to absorb the cost of inflation – let alone meet
rising demand or innovate for growth.
“I fear we will see higher class sizes and curriculum cuts.
“Labor strongly opposes these cuts to education funding.
“Our future prosperity depends on more investment in schools and TAFE colleges – not less.
“The O’Farrell Government should at the very least be maintaining funding at the current trajectory
for every school in NSW.
“I encourage all parents to make their voices heard by contacting their local MP and Premier Barry
O’Farrell.”
NSW Upper House Labor MP, Mr Walt Secord was among the Labor speakers.
Mr Secord, who is also NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel deputy chair spoke against the cuts and specifically cited their impact on the Independent, Catholic and Jewish schools.
“Education was my way out of disadvantage. Education remains the great leveller in an unequal society. If it were not for public education, I would not be standing here today in this chamber,” Mr Secord told the NSW Legislative Council.
“I was the first member of my family to complete high school. For me, education is everything. I also see education as our nation’s economic development strategy.”
Mr Secord called on the O’Farrell Government to immediately scrap the $1.7 billion cut to education.
“This morning, teachers, religious leaders, and NSW families are lining up to vehemently oppose the Government’s decision to put the axe through our education system.
“Funding for independent schools – the Catholic, Jewish and independent schools – is to be frozen – which will translate into a cut of $116 million over four years.
“NSW Catholic Education Commission chairman Anthony Fisher has said the cuts betrayed a pre-election promise by the O’Farrell Government.
“The broken promise on independent schools comes into effect on July 1, 2013.
“This will be matched by a $201 million cut over four years to public school budgets,” Mr Secord said.
The cut in education funding of $1.7 could have been avoided.
Failure by both the previous Labor government and the current government to reform the way tax is collected in NSW has seen NSW lose a staggering $4.815 billion in lost revenue between 2007 and 2011.
Had both sides of politics not been so grossly negligent and incompetent in failing to undertake reform of the taxation system – we would not be talking of the need to cut $1.7 billion from the education budget now.
Both sides of politics were warned on numerous occasions over the last 10 years to reform the tax system – but ignored each and every warning. Neither side can claim ignorance of what was required to turn around the State’s parlous financial position
Parents and children are now set to pay for the utter stupidity and brain dead attitude of their politicians. Other groups are bound to follow unless proposed reforms presented to the politicians are urgently implemented with the joint agreement of both sides of politics.
A pox on both their houses if they don’t wake up and act immediately..
The should all hold their collective heads in shame if they refuse to do so.
The fruits of their folly in failing to do so much earlier are now apparent to all.
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.
The problem is, His Hands aren’t on the purse strings.