Universities fear that Budget will miss the mark
13 May 2002
The National Tertiary Education Union indicated its fear that tomorrow night’s Budget would miss the mark by failing to address the problems faced by our universities.
“The community expects a down payment on increased government funding to universities”, Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President said. “Failure to deliver some relief will increase disillusionment amongst those concerned for the future of education system.
“We will judge the Budget by its measures to fill key labour market shortages such as teaching and nursing, restore opportunity by meeting unmet demand and reverse the crumbling of human and physical university infrastructure through increasing government funding per student.
“The number of qualified applicants missing out on places in teaching and nursing are both way up on last year. Despite labour market shortages in these areas, government policy that virtually all new student places be fee-paying has resulted in over 3,500 more aspiring teachers and nurses being turned away this year than in 2001.
“Our universities have already waited for the government to re-invest in the teaching of our students since budgets were slashed in 1996. Now the university sector has been asked to wait until the Crossroads process is completed at end of the year. Solutions to these problems cannot be put off any longer.
“Those who work in our universities and a growing proportion of the community are clear in what this Budget must deliver. With a university system which is already one of the most heavily dependent on private funding, the only solution is to increase public investment.”
Further information and comment:
Dr Carolyn Allport Simon Kent
National President Policy & Research Officer
Mobile 0419 349 064 Mobile 0408 520 016
Tel 03 9254 1910 Tel 03 9254 1910
Carolyn and Simon will be in Parliament House tomorrow evening and will be available for comment on the above mobile numbers.