00:00Of the ACT's 92 public schools, 77 are expected to be over budget this year.
00:09We know that parents will be really worried about what that looks like for them in their school.
00:15The Territory Government has responded by saying savings would be found in the Education Directorate, not through teacher cuts.
00:22That doesn't come with cuts in mind. It comes to understanding the staffing within schools and what schools actually need.
00:29However...
00:30We are hearing instances where contract staff have had their contracts terminated at the same time as being told that there will be no job cuts.
00:38The union says principals have also been told to consider combining classes and to rein in spending on casual staff.
00:45The Education Directorate says the information provided to principals by the Education Directorate on 21 July has not advised principals to undertake any of those measures.
00:55We will work to address any confusion and misunderstanding.
00:59Everything at the moment is verbal briefings, so it's hardly surprising that people are taking away different messages.
01:07But what's caused the budget blowouts?
01:09The Principals Association says it's due to more complex student needs, illness among staff and rising costs.
01:16The Education Union says school budget blowouts aren't new.
01:20There have been sort of rolling deficits for at least the last three years.
01:25Perhaps not as widespread as is currently being experienced, but those deficits have been accommodated through either reserves or advances from government.
01:36But the union says those sorts of government funds don't exist in the current situation.
01:41The Education Minister has announced a review of public school resourcing to provide independent advice on the allocation of resources within the ACT public school system.
01:51It will also consider improvements to budget management systems and processes.
01:56The review has been welcomed by principals, teachers and parents keen to ensure classes go on uninterrupted.
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