Pricier courses still popular

Though enrolments in Nelson's community education classes are down in the face of price increases, co-ordinators are encouraged by the support they have received from local businesses and the public to keep them going.

In last May's Budget, funding for ACE was cut from $16 million to $3m, with the Government saying it did not want to pay for hobby courses.

Then, Education Minister Anne Tolley repeatedly said that with New Zealand in a recession, the Government was focused on foundation skills such as literacy, numeracy and language courses.

However, despite a projection of a large drop-off in numbers, local community education co-ordinators say they only experienced a fall of about 20 per cent.

Nayland ACE co-ordinator Kathryn Sclater said there were still about 500 students in classes.

She had looked to local businesses to sponsor courses to keep prices down.

"The drop is consistent with what we thought would happen but it shows there is still support for these types of classes."

Ms Sclater said more people were committing to shorter term, cheaper courses. "That is telling me that people just don't have that disposable income to fund the longer courses which cost more."

Last year, a nationwide petition of 53,344 signatures protesting the funding cuts, including 776 signatures from the Nelson region, was presented to Parliament.

It will go before a select committee on February 24.

Waimea College ACE co-ordinator Lynda Jessen-Tye said there had been some cancellations for some courses but others were filling up more than usual.

The choir had doubled from last year and several classes for next term were already full.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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