Budget fails education

With a record surplus budget, the Howard Government has squandered an opportunity to invest in the country's most valuable natural resource, our students in public schools and TAFE colleges.

Maree O'Halloran, NSW Teachers' Federation President, said today:

"The Howard Government's commitment to education can be measured by the number of times it was mentioned by the Treasurer in his budget speech, ie, zero.

"Between 2005 -2008, the Howard Government is giving almost three quarters of the federal recurrent education budget to approximately 30% of students in private schools. The Howard Government continues to show contempt for the 70% of students enrolled in public schools.

"As well, there are no provisions which will seriously address the skills shortage facing Australia. John Howard's comment on AM this morning that the establishment of Australian Technical Colleges is meant to do that is disingenuous. What is needed is more government investment in an already well established and productive TAFE system.

"The results of a national pre-budget poll conducted by the Australian Education Union showed that 73% of those surveyed indicated a preference for greater investment in education rather than tax cuts and 90% said that additional funding should go to public schools.

"It is a national disgrace that the Howard Government, awash with funds, continues to fail public education."