Qld high school students walk out over education cuts

By Bill Mason

BRISBANE -- High school students up and down Queensland have walked out, rallied and marched in protest at state government cuts in education funding in recent weeks.

Following the successful rally in Brisbane on August 13, students at Hervey Bay, Mackay and other regional centres have protested the cuts by marching to the offices of local ALP state parliamentarians to present petitions slamming the cuts.

Meanwhile, almost 500 students at Marsden State High School were put on detention by the principal after they boycotted classes on August 13 to attend the Brisbane rally.

In the face of widespread student, parent and teacher anger, Education Minister Pat Comben on August 18 ordered a “slowdown” in the pace

of changes in the state school system.

Queensland Teachers Union president Mary Kelly said her organisation had been saying for some time that the pace of change was too rapid and “unsupported”.

“However, the discontent of teachers and parents currently is about education cuts”, she said. “The minister should do all the fine things he has spelt out in his statement -- plus reverse the education cuts just as has happened with rail and health”.

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