This week in the Beehive

6. Hon MARYAN STREET (Labour) to the Minister for Tertiary Education: Does he stand by the decisions the Government has made with respect to funding adult and community education?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Tertiary Education) : Yes. This Government has had to make some difficult decisions regarding adult and community education, because the previous administration left behind a $521 million hole of unfunded commitments in Budget 2008.

Hon Maryan Street: In this New Zealand Sign Language Week, is the Minister aware that his predecessor had this to say last year about guaranteeing funding for sign language classes: “New Zealand Sign Language will continue to receive adult and community education funding, because it fits within the Government’s adult and community education priority. … The courses will not be cut.”; if he is, how is it that sign language classes previously held at Napier Boys’ High School, Tamatea High School, and Hastings Boys’ High School are no longer running in 2010, because of funding cuts?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Yes, I am aware of that.. In relation to the Hawke’s Bay schools that the member mentioned, I am not aware of the specific provision in Hawke’s Bay. But if she would like me to make some inquiries on her behalf, I am happy to do so.

Lynne Pillay: How is it that sign language classes at Tikipunga High School, which serves the Whangarei, Kaikohe, and Kerikeri areas; at Rutherford College in Te Atatū; at Kelston Boys High School, which is right beside the Kelston Deaf Education Centre; at Tauranga Boys College; and at Tauranga Girls College are all unable to deliver services this year because of funding cuts?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The Government has made a decision to refocus adult and community education funding on providing a number of programmes, including literacy, language, numeracy and foundation skills, and sign language. The individual funding decisions are made by the Tertiary Education Commission. But if the member has concerns about the lack of provision in a particular area, I invite her to contact my office and I will investigate that.

Hon Maryan Street: If sign language is one of the Government’s priorities for adult and community education, how in New Zealand Sign Language Week is it that courses at Fairfield College and Melville High School in Hamilton, at Shirley Boys High School in Christchurch, and at Taieri College in Dunedin cannot be offered in 2010, because of funding cuts; is this a sign of how the Government delivers its priorities?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: As I said to the previous speaker, the funding decisions are made by the Tertiary Education Commission, based on the Government’s priorities. Once again, I am happy to address any specific concerns about lack of provision in a particular area, but schools and other providers are prioritised by the Tertiary Education Commission. I note that the biggest reduction in Adult and Community Education funding occurred under the previous Government, where the number of students funded for Adult and Community Education dropped from 279,000 students in 2004 to 77,000 students in 2008.