25 Mar 2010

Schools 'struggling' to provide community education

6:42 am on 25 March 2010

A Parliamentary committee has heard that some parts of the country no longer have school-based adult and community education because of Government funding cuts.

The Education and Science Select Committee received four petitions opposing the cuts, which axed nearly $13 million or 80% of the sector's funding.

Community Learning Association Through Schools president Maryke Fordyce told the committee on Wednesday that most schools in Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and West Coast have stopped providing adult and community education.

She said enrolments at some schools were abysmal.

Ministry of Education officials told the committee they have money in reserve to fund schools in areas where there are no longer any courses.