stop VCAL funding cuts

We demand that the proposed cuts of $48 million to funding for coordinators in the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) be scraped.

This hands-on program gives our students the skills employers are looking for - practical work-related experience and literacy, numeracy and personal skills essential for life and work.

The funding of co-coordinators are crucial to VCAL as they develop links with employers and other education institutions and tailor programs to each individual student's needs.

VCAL has been proven to keep kids in school and other learning institutions.

The decision to cut $12 million per year will impact heavily on the 20,000 students who undertake VCAL every year.

Many Victorian schools will be forced to make the hard decision to cut back or discontinue VCAL programs or cut other programs.

I urge the Victoria Government to listen to the broader community's, concerns and restore funding to this critical program.