Qld: Govt defends hiring fewer teachers

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2000
Qld: Govt defends hiring fewer teachers

The Queensland opposition has accused the Beattie Government of hiring half the number
of new teachers it promised in last year's budget.

But the government has rejected the claim, saying it has kept its promise to hire new
teachers at the rate dictated by a formula used by Queensland governments for decades.

Outside a budget estimates hearing today, opposition education spokesman BOB QUINN
said the government promised 288 new teachers in last year's budget but has only 145 new
teachers last financial year.

Education Minister DEAN WELLS says the discrepancy between the projected teacher numbers
in last year's budget and the actual number of teachers employed is a result of a lower
than expected enrolment rate this year.

AAP RTV bja/jhm/wz/jn

KEYWORD: TEACHERS (BRISBANE)

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