Concerns raised by funding cuts

By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
THE state government’s education budget cuts on low-income families will hit rural schools hard, according to McEwen MP Rob Mitchell.
Mr Mitchell said he had been inundated with letters and phone calls from those who were concerned about the issue.
He said he has been told in meetings with school councils, principals and parents that the cuts will have a great impact on the schools’ ability to deliver services to vulnerable students.
He said many schools in his area were being left with a black hole in their budgets after the Education Maintenance Allowance was cut, the school start bonus dumped, and funding was slashed for school support officers.
But the office for Education Minister Martin Dixon said the allowance – paid directly to low-income families to help with costs such as uniforms, books and excursions – will actually increase from the start of next year.
The allowance provides financial assistance to families on a low income and helps pay for essential items such as textbooks, stationery, excursions and uniforms.
Mr Mitchell raised concerns expressed to him by McEwen schools when he spoke on the issues in Parliament on Monday 21 May.
“I am a firm believer that every child deserves every opportunity to succeed at school, no matter where they live or their socio-economic circumstances,” he told MPs.
“The Liberals’ cuts to the Education Maintenance Allowance will hit disadvantaged and rural school communities the hardest at a time when they need support to deliver every opportunity to our kids for their future.”
A spokesperson for Mr Dixon said Mr Mitchell’s “rant” showed how “out of touch” he really was and illustrated why federal Labor was so “on the nose”.
“What he doesn’t seem to understand is that the education maintenance allowance – paid directly to low-income families to help with costs such as uniforms, books and excursions – will actually increase from the start of next year,” spokesman James Martin said.
“While school-based EMA payments will cease from 2013, this will be offset by additional equity-based funding to government and non-government schools with high numbers of students from a lower socio-economic background.”