Education Deans show funding crisis - Public investment needed to address crisis
15 October 2001
The union representing university staff has supported the call for increased education funding made by the Australian Council of Deans of Education in Melbourne this morning.
“We cannot escape the fact that our education system is struggling because of funding cuts”, Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU National President said. “The Deans of Education have thoroughly demonstrated that we have a funding crisis.
“We welcome the call by the Deans of Education for a 20% increase in university grants. This is required simply to restore funding to 1996 levels.
“The report accurately charts the scale of the problems facing our education system. There is a wealth of evidence to support the urgent need for investment in our most vital national resource- the skills and knowledge of our people.
“We also support the call by the Deans of Education to address the serious problems of educational disadvantage in specific groups in our community. Australia still has serious problems in ensuring equal opportunities for all people in society and we echo the call to action by the Deans.
“The report’s ‘call to our political leaders’ puts the ball in the court of all political parties in this election. Supportive words must be matched with investment if Australia is to make the most of its opportunities and flourish in the twenty-first century.”