Adult Ed: Huge price rises for pensioners next term

Friends of Adult Education
A NEW pricing policy for all Adult Education classes next term means that pensioners could be paying up to $50 more for a standard 10 week course.

Spokesperson Bob McMahon said David Bartlett’s spin on Adult Education is either false, or he has no idea what plans are afoot in his own department.

In a memo dated 10 March 2009 to all Adult Education staff, John Tucker, manager-in-charge of Adult Education, gives details of how the new pricing structure is to work.

In addition to now having to cover the cost of all venue hire – a cost that was previously largely covered by the government grant to Adult Education – the way concessions are calculated has been radically altered.

Pensioners, Health Care card holders and those with disabilities will find their concessions cut drastically under the new model. Senior’s card holders’ entitlements will also be reduced. Together this group accounts for around 50% of Adult Education’s students.

Previously these groups had a concession on most of the costs involved in running a course. Now they will get only a small reduction in the administration charge.

For those doing a 10 week x 2 hour course this could mean a difference of around $50.

The claim that the new pricing policy was created with ‘…the intention of creating more streamlined processes and an equitable program,’ was difficult to believe, said Mr McMahon.

In a further change, class fees are now expected to cover ‘all administration, overheads, salary on-costs, staffing and total operational and set up costs,’ leaving one to wonder what the $1.8 million allocated to Adult Education is going to be spent on.

The number of new courses is likely to drop also as staff have been told they can only put a new course on “if it will be financially viable”.

Along with the up-front payment by credit card system it is expected these changes will lead to drastic drops in enrolments, bringing into question David Bartlett’s commitment that Adult Education will continue as long as people enrol in courses.

Spokesperson Bob McMahon said that David Bartlett’s statement that those pedalling the message of Adult Ed’s demise will be embarrassed, has been turned on its head. “It’s Mr Bartlett who will be embarrassed once the public realise what he’s really up to,” he said.