School in minister’s ear

By Lia Bichel
STUDENTS and teachers confronted the Minister of Education last week to voice their concerns about the funding cuts to the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL).
Minister for Education Martin Dixon attended Narre Warren South P-12 College on 12 December to discuss their concerns over the State Government’s decision to cut $12 million funding for the coordination of the program.
VET/VCAL Program Manager Rob Duncan said it was a “positive” meeting.
“He listened attentively to what we had to say which was good.
“Students spoke to him about their VCAL experience and the co-ordinator spoke about what she would not be able to do now that that funding has been cut,” Mr Duncan said.
“I explained to him our school’s point of view and said the timing of the decision was poor.”
Mr Duncan said the State Government’s decision was announced to the school through a memo it received on 19 August without any prior consultation.
Mr Duncan said $126,000 was removed from the school’s budget two days after the school had completed its senior course counselling where approximately half the senior kids selected a VCAL program.
Though Mr Duncan said he was frustrated with the decision, he was optimistic the meeting between the school and Mr Dixon would benefit the students in the future.
“He didn’t give us any commitments for next year but he said he had a much better understanding of VCAL and what it can mean when it is done properly,” Mr Duncan said.
“My expectations are that nothing will happen for the start of next year but that the decision to cut the funding will be revisited in the next State Government budget.”
James Martin, spokesperson for Minister for Education Mr Dixon, said that while the Government’s decision in relation to the special co-ordination payment remained unchanged, Mr Dixon was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with and listen to the school’s concerns.
“The special coordination payment was only ever meant to help establish the program when it was first introduced in 2003,” Mr Martin said.
“The Government expects the amount of funding to support student participation in VCAL will continue to increase in line with any student growth.
“The minister has asked the education department to work with schools that are looking to provide VCAL for the first time next year to ensure they are able to do so.”