Greens push to rescue VCAL

THE Greens party has shown its true colours on its stance on the State Government’s VCAL funding cuts.
Greens spokesperson for education Sue Pennicuik has expressed her disappointment in the $12million funding cuts, which was announced in August.
She has called on the State Government to restore the funding to VCAL and provide support for a long-term future.
“VCAL is a vital program in education in Victoria that caters for a range of students, and some are disengaged from mainstream education,” Ms Pennicuik said.
“Some students have to deal with significant and complex issues including homelessness, teen parenting, mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse, physical, mental and sexual abuse, severe bullying and are victims of crime.
“These cuts will hit our most vulnerable students the hardest and will disadvantage students from rural and regional areas, providing less opportunity for future training and jobs.”
Ms Pennicuik said that without the funding, many schools, particularly small and rural, would not be able to afford to continue with their VCAL programs, which she believed would result in further skills shortages and a detrimental effect on a large number of students.