LYNN JARVIS
“This course guide, like most of David Bartlett’s recent efforts in regard to Adult Education, including his rushed 60th birthday celebrations, is about trying to make things look good, trying to trick the Tasmanian public into thinking that Adult Education is indeed safe in his hands. The truth is however, it is not. Mr Bartlett needs to stand up now and tell us how he intends to make good his promises that provision will not fall as Adult Ed is amalgamated into the Community Knowledge Network or else take Adult Education out now before the damage is terminal,” said Ms Jarvis.
There has also been a significant drop in course numbers in Hobart (608 in 2007, 539 2009) and a massive drop in new classes (69 – 2007 to 35 -2009). The North West program has fallen by half in the past 3 years.
Media Release
Bartlett’s Promise in Tatters
The slick presentation of the latest Adult Education course guide cannot help hide the reality that David Bartlett’s promise that ‘provision will not diminish whilst he is Premier’ is in tatters.
The reality is the latest northern Adult Ed program has decreased by 30% in the two years it has been under the helm of David Bartlett and his much lauded Community Knowledge Network and the many pretty pictures in the current guide do nothing more than cover up the gaps where classes used to be.
This year’s winter program contains only 224 entries, compared to 300 in 2007. 18 of the 224 are not in fact classes merely expressions of interests meaning in reality there are 94 fewer real learning opportunities than there were just two years ago.
“We know these expression of interest ‘classes’ were put together by senior management right at the last moment to try and boost the numbers,’ said Friends of Adult Ed spokesperson, Lynn Jarvis. “We also know there was last minute scrambling to fix the concession rates after we brought to their attention that the new pricing system was going to mean big increases for pensioners. Fortunately for students, they did manage to fix this, but what does it say about those now in charge?”
The biggest loser is the regional north with the long running ‘Country Areas’ program being cut. Except for 2 computer classes in Deloraine, there will now be no classes held outside of the Launceston area. Also missing since Adult Education became part of the Community Knowledge Network are the National Textile Arts forum, the Adult Ed choir, the Adult Ed music evenings and the Not Yet Famous Art Exhibitions.
New courses have been cut dramatically also, falling from about 80 in the winter 2007 program, to 36 real classes in the current program.
These falls follow a period of strong growth for Adult Education in the north of the state and correlate directly with the amalgamation of Adult Education into the Community Knowledge Network.
In addition to fewer classes, many have increased in cost, particularly computer courses and health and well being courses such as yoga and Tai Chi.
“At first glance Tai Chi and Yoga look like they have become cheaper but a quick read of the fine print shows in fact they have gone up substantially. You pay less, but you get a whole lot less too. Whereas previously 10 sessions were about $80 now 6 are $60. This represents about a 20% price increase. We believe this kind of ‘fiddling’ is an appalling attempt to hide significant cost increases.”
“This course guide, like most of David Bartlett’s recent efforts in regard to Adult Education, including his rushed 60th birthday celebrations, is about trying to make things look good, trying to trick the Tasmanian public into thinking that Adult Education is indeed safe in his hands. The truth is however, it is not. Mr Bartlett needs to stand up now and tell us how he intends to make good his promises that provision will not fall as Adult Ed is amalgamated into the Community Knowledge Network or else take Adult Education out now before the damage is terminal,” said Ms Jarvis.
There has also been a significant drop in course numbers in Hobart (608 in 2007, 539 2009) and a massive drop in new classes (69 – 2007 to 35 -2009). The North West program has fallen by half in the past 3 years.
