NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson with Upper House MP Helen Westwood with a Save our School petition for East Blaxland Public School parent Leonie Orme, 36 and some of her children — son Christopher, 11, Lucy, four months, James, 9 and Emma, 5.
NSW Opposition leader John Robertson wants Blue Mountains parents to lobby the State Government over the $1.7billion education funding cuts.
Making a lightning visit to Blaxland East Public School on Monday, he said parents needed to get angry with cuts expected across the board — to office support staff and special needs teachers aides; as well as cuts expected to classroom supplies, including whiteboards and potentially some specialist programs.
Job cuts are expected in ESL (English as a second language) and the roll-out of teacher training for the new curriculum next year was under threat, he said.
Class sizes would also increase in public schools and Catholic and independent schools would be forced to raise fees anywhere from $100 to $500 per child, he added.
Mother of six, Leonie Orme, 36 said she had chosen Blaxland East for the extra curricular programs.
“My son Christopher has learning difficulties — he gets minimal help for that and that is probably threatened, but what he really enjoys is his western Sydney concert band and the co-ordinator is very concerned about the cuts that might be coming.”
NSW Education minister Adrian Piccoli said the NSW Government had to make tough decisions to ensure the state “lives within its means”.
Blue Mountains MP Roza Sage has vowed to lobby on behalf her constituents.