The AEU today condemned the decision by the Prime Minister to extend the Howard Government's controversial National School Chaplaincy Program until the end of 2011, at a cost of $42.8 million.

AEU Federal President Angelo Gavrielatos said the union strongly supported the need for additional resources aimed at addressing the growing level of complex social and emotional issues experienced by young people in our schools.

However, these additional resources should be allocated to employ appropriately qualified school counsellors or psychologists. That would allow schools to expand and improve existing programs developed to meet the needs of young people.

Urgent resources are needed to achieve more manageable caseloads. In NSW, for example, the school counsellor to student ratio stands at about 1 to 1000.

The AEU considers the National School Chaplaincy Program one of the most misguided policies announced by the Howard Government. It undermines Australia's secular traditions.