SAVAGE cuts to Victoria University will heavily affect disadvantaged students, according to VU supporters.
The Weekly last week reported VU could lose up to $4.4 million a year under the federal government’s plan to cut university funding to pay for the Gonski reforms and boost money for schools, as Prime Minister Julia Gillard discussed on Friday with state and territory leaders.
Friends of Victoria University spokesman Paul Adams said VU was already suffering from $40 million of state government TAFE cuts, forcing the closure of 25 per cent of all TAFE courses. He said the withdrawal of scholarship and funding support for students with low incomes would have a dramatic effect.
“The Gonski reforms were supposed to be about increasing participation of students in schools from low-income backgrounds in bachelor degrees,” Dr Adams said.
“The impact of reducing funding support, however, at VU will have the opposite effect and, indeed, further impacts on TAFE are likely to negatively impact on students who have missed out on opportunities in the secondary school system and are among some of the most disadvantaged.” —Benjamin Millar
