Rudd slams Gillard’s education cuts

Reports today that schools are abandoning the Labor Government issued ‘Computers in Schools’ programme highlights the impact of Labor’s cuts to education said the Shadow Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne.

“Last night on the ABC, the former Prime Minister and Member for Griffith, Kevin Rudd said ‘Any government which cuts education is cutting the future of the economy. ‘

“Mr Rudd might be shocked then that his former trusted Deputy and Education Minister, Julia Gillard has slashed $3.9 billion from education in the recent MYEFO and entirely cut Mr Rudd’s flagship ‘Computers in Schools’ programme of the $600 million allocated over the forward estimates.

“With no more funding forthcoming it will fall to the states or parents to pay for Labor’s broken promises.

“In another cheap accounting trick, Labor included 250,000 computers already in classrooms in 2008 in their final ‘Computers in Schools’ tally. Every student in year 9-12 did not receive a new computer as Mr Rudd promised, as thousands were already in schools and would now be eight years old.

“Little wonder then students are handing back department issued computers in favour of their own personal devices.

“With State Governments now saddled with a growing pile of obsolete technology and federal funding cut into the future for maintenance and replacements, schools should take careful note of the incompetence of this Government.

“How can Labor be trusted to deliver a new school funding model by the end of next year, when they can’t even manage to run their flagship education programme competently?” Mr Pyne said.

November 20, 2012