7 November 2007 Education and training - comment for Eden Magnet
If elected/re-elected, what would you and the party you represent do to
assist business owners to take on apprentices, and what would you do to
improve education private, systemic catholic and public schools in the
Eden-Monaro electorate? 300 words
The Greens will push for a $975 million
annual boost to TAFE funding from the federal government, including a $50
million dollar sustainability package.
We will abolish all fees and charges for vocational training at TAFE and
increase the number of places.
This will help attract and retain
prospective students and help employers wanting to take on apprentices.
Specifically The Greens propose a new $50 million environmental education fund
to pay for sustainability training in TAFE courses. That means giving people
sustainability skills in their vocational training.
This training would be invaluable in supporting new industries that need to develop in our region as a response to climate change and greater renewable energy demands.
Fulltime university and TAFE students should be entitled to a living allowance which enables them to study instead of having to work during term time.
The federal government has cut $300 million a year out of TAFE. State governments have followed suit and are putting up fees.
Schools
Public education must be the highest priority within the education budget.
All people are entitled to free, well-funded and high quality, life-long public education and training.
The Greens will abolish the Commonwealth Government’s inequitable schemes for funding the most privileged private schools.
We would invest the money saved from ending public subsidies to the very wealthiest private schools into a national equity funding program for public schools.
The Greens reject the use of education funding vouchers.