Labor’s savage education cuts exposed

The Gillard Government’s savage education cuts to the computers in schools programme have been exposed today, according to the Shadow Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne.

“The Daily Telegraph has revealed the jewel in the crown of Julia Gillard’s so-called education revolution has been cut by Labor in the 2012 Budget, with funding for maintenance and upgrades slashed,” Mr Pyne said.

“The piles of broken computers also highlights that the dodgy accounting used by the Government to claim they have delivered one million computers was fraudulent from the start,” he said.

“When the programme began in 2008, Labor surveyed how many existing computers in schools were less than four years old and included them in their final tally.

“Almost 250,000 computers were included, meaning some computers could now be eight years old.

“It is little wonder some of these computers are breaking down. Now the Gillard Government has cut the funding for their programme, cash strapped State Governments are left to foot the bill.

“If Labor can’t be trusted to deliver the flagship education programme they promised, how can they be trusted to change our school funding system?” Mr Pyne said.

September 27, 2012