Thousands attend Perth rally over education cuts

Date
    April 1, 2014


A crowd of thousands at a rally protesting cuts to the education budget is proof that the issue has not gone away - despite the state government's insistence the cuts were necessary.            

While official numbers have not been recorded the continuously growing crowd appears similar in size to the rally held in September, which was attended by about 15,000.

Teachers, education assistants, parents and students have gathered at Langley Park ahead of a march to Parliament House.


Thousands marched through Perth against the education funding cuts.         

They are demanding that the funding taken from the education budget, which saw the loss of about 500 positions at WA schools, be reinstated.

More than 100 schools across the state are closed today and the remainder are operating on a limited basis.

Despite most West Australian schools remaining open most students appear to be staying home.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said WA children deserved more.


Of the 775 schools in the state, 103 are closed because of a lack of staff; others are running with modified programs.

North Perth Primary School, which remains open, was so quiet during drop-off time even the crosswalk guard commented on the lack of students.

"It's dead quiet," he said as he waited for children to escort across the road.

Most of the parents who dropped off their children at the school who spoke to Fairfax Media were aware industrial action was taking place.

A father of a young boy and girl said that while he knew that school on Tuesday would simply be "a babysitting service," and he supported the strike, he and his wife had to work which was why his children were attending.

A mother of two boys said she hadn't planned to bring her sons to school as she knew they would not be doing much, but did so at their insistence.

"I didn't think it was worth it but they love school, they wanted to come," she said.

There are also reports of lower than usual attendance at schools in regional areas.

Kambalda West District High School, which caters for kindergarten through to high school students is quieter than usual.

One mother was surprised that there were only four other children in her daughter's kindergarten class.

The Education Department's Director General has warned parents that their children will be marked as absent if they do not turn up to class if their school was open.

Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/thousands-attend-perth-rally-over-education-cuts-20140401-35vpq.html#ixzz2xbkG9Lj8