Lynn Jarvis, Friends of Adult Ed
DAVID Bartlett’s ‘all is well’ spin on Adult Ed is starting to fall apart as more plans are revealed about the merger of Adult Education with libraries and online access centres.

Media release:

Staff in three centres state-wide – South Hobart, the Eastern Shore and Launceston – have been told that their centres are closing or they are moving to libraries.

The South Hobart centre is up for sale, and a big question now hangs over the future of the York Street and High Street facilities in Launceston, both of which are high-profile commercial sites. The sale of these facilities would put several million dollars into the government’s coffers whilst on the other hand leading to price rises for students.

In the new Pricing Policy for Adult Education, costs previously covered by government funding must now be fully borne by student fees. Venue hire is one of these costs. If facilities are sold off, more outsides venues will need to be hired and prices will rise. AE is even charged for using government schools.

“Not only that,” said spokesperson Lynn Jarvis, “people will have very little access to Adult Ed staff who will be housed in offices within libraries. Up-front payments will disadvantage many and the whole ‘human touch’ which has always been a fundamental part of Adult Ed’s success will be gone.

“Also, students may have to use facilities that are not always suitable to adults, making them second-class learners. My biggest fear however, is price increases. In the end people just won’t be able to afford to do Adult Ed classes any more.”

“Mr Bartlett’s comments that price rises are just run-of-the-mill cost of living rises are simply not correct. He is either not telling the truth or he doesn’t know what is happening in his own department.

“And what about the $1.8 million grant for Adult Ed? If its true classes must now cover all costs, what is that going to be spent on?

“From the perspective of an Adult Ed student there seems to be absolutely no benefit in any of these changes, in fact the whole philosophy of this change seems to be that they are not important. Adult Ed should be left as it was.”

Architects of the changes, Director of Education John Smyth (also architect of the problem-riddled post year 10 changes) and head of the State Library, Siobhan Gaskell have remained quiet on the confusion surrounding the future of Adult Ed.

Long-time Adult Ed art student, Elva Langmaid, 74 or Warrane, has written to Friends of Adult Ed expressing her fears for her beloved Adult Ed class.

She writes, “The pleasure of attending many Adult Ed courses is to be taken away from me. These courses have meant I have many social contacts with people and as I have a terminal illness (melanoma) I feel this outlet has helped prolong my life because of the interest I have in art class each week. Why disappoint so many citizens who have these interests?”

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ADULT ED CAMPUS CHANGES FUEL GROWING CONCERNS
Bartlett Must Address Staff Morale & Community Access Concerns
Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
Thursday, 9 April 2009

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today expressed concern over the future of Adult Education in Tasmania after reports that the South Hobart campus will be sold, and that staff in Launceston have been told that they will have to move to libraries.

Greens Leader and Education spokesperson Nick McKim MP said that morale is low among Adult Education staff due to uncertainty over the future caused by the failure of Education Minister David Bartlett to clarify his intentions.

“Mr Bartlett is either out of touch with his own Department and does not know what is going on, or he has been misleading the public over the future of Adult Education in Tasmania,” Mr McKim said.

“There is significant uncertainty over the future of Adult Education facilities, and if Mr Bartlett intends to sell off Adult Education centres to prop up his budget bottom line he will quite rightly face a significant community backlash.”

“Mr Bartlett’s glib reassurances that Adult Education facilities will not be eroded is sounding more and more hollow in light of concerns that campuses in South Hobart, the Eastern Shore and Launceston will close and potentially be sold.”

“The thousands of Tasmanians who use Adult Education have a right to more clarity from Mr Bartlett, as do the tutors and staff who do such a great job.”

“Another real concern is that Adult Ed will now have to pay to hire venues for its classes, and Mr Bartlett must guarantee that these hire costs will not be passed onto students under the new Pricing Policy that now requires that course costs must be fully covered by student fees.”