Australia: Labor makes cynical promise on public education in Victorian election

For empty promises and cheap electioneering, the Labor Party’s ploy on public education in the Victorian state election campaign plumbs new depths.

After seven years in power Premier Steve Bracks decided that public education will be his government’s “number one priority” if returned to office. He has just noticed that public schools are in a shambles and is promising to renovate them.

The pledge was the top item in the party’s campaign launch last week. Labor grandly announced: “Every Victorian government school will have been rebuilt or modernised within 10 years under Labor’s plan for the state’s biggest-ever school building program.”

As always, such promises have to be taken with a large grain of salt. It should be noted, first of all, that nothing was said about restoring staffing levels, reopening closed schools or providing additional funding for much-needed specialist services.

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http://wsws.org/articles/2006/nov2006/edu2-n24.shtml