PARENTS of students at Duval High School have expressed their frustration at the NSW Government’s failure to connect Duval High School to the NBN – denying students the ability to access the full range of modern learning tools.
Country Labor candidate for Northern Tablelands Herman Beyersdorf was joined by Opposition Leader John Robertson and Shadow Minister for Education Carmel Tebbutt on Monday to meet with local Duval High School P&C representatives in Armidale to discuss the many education challenges facing local students.
Local education services are also being hit with cuts including:
– Five staff cut from the Regional Education Office in Armidale;
– 18 special/support classes in regular schools in the New England schooling region lost in 2012; and
– $5 million cut from the TAFE NSW New England Institute budget – amounting to a 13 per cent cut to the budget.
“Local Tablelands students are paying the price for the savage cuts to TAFE and regional education staff from this Liberal/National Government,” Opposition Leader John Robertson said.
“You can’t cut millions from the TAFE budget or staff from the regional education office and expect services to not be affected.”
Shadow Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt said the local P&C was rightly concerned that children were being denied access to the high-speed capabilities of the NBN.
“The frustration the parents at Duval High School have had to endure is just the tip of the iceberg – regional students will only become more disadvantaged with these cuts.”
Country Labor candidate for Northern Tablelands Herman Beyersdorf said: “First-class education resources and facilities should be this government’s number one priority – yet they have slashed budgets locally.
“Our local community needs a representative that will fight to be heard and for more resources – yet the Nationals seem to be taking this community for granted.
“If Adam Marshall was serious about standing up for local students he would pick up the phone to the Education Minister in Sydney and ensure funding is restored and that all local students get access to the best resources.”
