The Australian Law Students’ Association (ALSA) today said that the 2009 budget had significant failings in the areas of funding for higher education teaching.

Vice President (Education) Christopher Holmes stated that the $3 billion for tertiary research infrastructure was welcomed but stated that ‘for teaching intensive subjects such as law, the funding is essentially useless.’

‘We need to see more of an investment in teaching so that subject like law can expand to meet already high demand, without extra funding teaching intensive subjects will continue to fall behind.’

Mr Holmes however urged universities not to rapidly increase class sizes for subjects such as law under the new demand driven funding system. ‘Deregulating student places will have unpredictable results, education in subjects such as law will become about quantity not quality.’

‘This will put further pressure on already stretched law school resources, resulting in lower standards of teaching and a poorer educational experience.’

Media contact

Christopher Holmes
Vice President (Education)
+61 4 2576 4893