A CONCERNED Secret Harbour parent has criticised State Government budget cuts to a public secondary school subsidy scheme, saying they would disadvantage parents and schools in lower socio-economic areas.
Thalia Rich-Bowles, a member of the school council at Warnbro Community High School where her children are enrolled, said she was horrified by the withdrawal of the It Pays to Learn Allowance that provided parents of students turning 16 and 17 with annual payments of $200, or $400 for students in full-time training, plus a $100 discount on school fees.
“It smacks of the elitism that one associates with the wealthy western suburbs which the Premier and Education Minister represent,” Ms Rich-Bowles said.
Education Minister Elizabeth Constable said the cuts were part of a State Government commitment to maximise efficiency, and $18.5 million would be saved each year by discontinuing the payments.
“While these payments may have been popular, they were not means-tested and were not necessarily being spent on the educational requirements of students,” the minister said.
Ms Rich-Bowles said she was not aware how many parents knew about the cuts but the scheme helped them and schools maintain a good education system for their children.
“I am one of about 60 per cent of parents who pay my school fees but the abolition of this subsidy will lead to a further reduction in this percentage rate,” she said. “As a parent I already feel the financial pressure of the current economic downturn and it will have an impact on all our lives for a great many years.
“This pressure is also felt within the school where running and materials costs have also blown out. This $100, when multiplied by the number of paying students, amounted to a substantial portion of the money used to purchase new sports, science, art, mathematics and other necessary equipment.”