The Adult Education School has appealed for $100,000 to keep it open.

AES director Julia Beach, says Government spends about $16,000 on each student, some of that funding should go to the school with the students.

AES now gets about $145,000 from Government, but Mrs. Beach has called on Government to boost its funding because of the increasing numbers of students who end up there after an unsuccessful stint at the Government senior schools.

Some 135 students are currently registered at AES ? 121 of whom are former public school students.

But it survives on about eight part-time teachers and nine volunteers and desperately needs funding for full time teachers.

Government?s latest Budget, unveiled last Friday, boosted funding for Teen Services ? which has serviced 22 pregnant students since September and has one full time and two part time teachers ? by over $200,000.

?Without these funds she?s looking at possibly shutting down in September. Why can?t the money follow the children? We?re not asking for the whole $16,000,? said former CedarBridge Parent Teacher Association president Robin Richardson.

Mr. Richardson moved his 16-year-old daughter from CedarBridge to the AES earlier this year and is thrilled with the results.

According to AES, $100,000 will solve the funding crisis at the school which requires most students to pay a $650 fee per term.

?I?m just hoping that somebody in Government is going to really look at how to improve education and the way to improve is to make sure we get every bang for our buck,? Mr. Richardson said.

He added: ?Why are we bringing them down? Why don?t we lift them up? Why don?t we just give them that $100,000 ? an investment that will pay multiple dividends. Let?s get in on the grassroots of what we?re doing and stop all this politicking.?

Education Minister Terry Lister could not be reached for comment yesterday.