14 Dec 2009

Fears schools will bear brunt of night class cuts

2:29 pm on 14 December 2009

New Zealand schools will struggle to pay for redundancies caused by $13 million funding cuts to night classes, a union says.

At present, more than 200 schools offer adult community education classes but many will be cut from next year, after the Government slashed funding by 80%.

The Post Primary Teachers' Association says students will suffer if schools are forced to pay for adult and community education staff redundancies next year.

Union president Kate Gainsford says the cuts were a bolt from the blue and schools cannot afford the cost of redundancies, which could be up to $80,000 for some employees.

Ms Gainsford says students will suffer if schools are forced to carry the cost.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has said the Government wants to focus on literacy, numeracy and language skills rather than hobby courses.