The WA Government has announced tens of millions of dollars of sweeping education spending cuts that will see nearly 200 jobs axed and a range of services across the state either shut down or slashed.

Where education will be cut 170 positions to be axed

170 positions to be axed Cuts to deliver $64 million in savings

Cuts to deliver $64 million in savings Schools of the Air (SOTA) to close down

Schools of the Air (SOTA) to close down Tuart College to be closed down

Tuart College to be closed down Canning College enrolment restricted to overseas fee-paying students

Canning College enrolment restricted to overseas fee-paying students Six camp school sites to be closed

Six camp school sites to be closed Landsdale Farm School funding to cease

Landsdale Farm School funding to cease Funding for gifted and talented programs at 18 schools cut 25 per cent

Funding for gifted and talented programs at 18 schools cut 25 per cent Vacation swimming fees to increase more than 100 per cent from $13.50 to $30

Vacation swimming fees to increase more than 100 per cent from $13.50 to $30 Teacher accommodation in Moora and Northam to close

Teacher accommodation in Moora and Northam to close Intake into Level 3 classroom teacher program on hold until 2020

The $64 million cut to education funding from 2019 will affect regional and metropolitan areas, with many programs closed down entirely, funding cuts for some and fee hikes for others.

Six camp school sites run by the Education Department will be shut down, residential colleges in Moora and Northam will be closed and 170 jobs are set to go.

The Schools of the Air (SOTA) will also be shut down, although Education Minister Sue Ellery insisted that remote students who had been taught under that scheme will continue to receive the same service.

Tuart College in Perth will close, Canning College will be made available only to overseas fee-paying students and Landsdale Farm School will have its funding removed.

Canning College will be available only to overseas students from 2019. ( ABC News: Greg Pollock )

On top of that, fees for vacation swimming lessons will more than double from $13.50 to $30 for a 10-day program, and 18 schools will face a 25 per cent funding cut for programs for gifted and talented students.

Of the 170 jobs set to be abolished, 70 are teaching positions — with those impacted eligible to take a redundancy under the State Government’s ongoing program.

A 'brutal decision'

The Isolated Children's Parents' Association (ICPA) described the decision as devastating, saying it would have an enormous impact on people in regional WA.

"It's really an absolutely brutal decision, it shows a total disregard to the situation of regional West Australian families," ICPA vice president Liz Sudlow said.

"It's just another nail in the coffin for regional WA in general."

The president of the Carnarvon SOTA Parents and Citizens' Association Teresa Tubby — who has two children enrolled in the program — said the families were devastated by news of its closure.

"They are really upset. Obviously there has been no consultation," Mrs Tubby said.

"They really feel it is going to further isolate their children."

Mrs Tubby said parents feared the alternative being presented by the State Government was an e-learning institute that would lack social interaction and one-on-one teaching.

"None of the parents I have spoken with, including myself, can see that as a realistic goal," she said.

"We see that this is going to be really detrimental to our children's education."

No alternative to cuts: Minister

Ms Ellery insisted education outcomes would not be impacted by the decision, saying the Government had no alternative but to make the cuts.

Sue Ellery says the Government is trying to minimise the impact of the cuts on students. ( ABC News: Jacob Kagi )

"I absolutely regret the decisions that have had to be made," she said.

"It is not possible to eliminate all impact on students but we've tried to do it in a way that minimises [it]."

Opposition Leader Mike Nahan said the decision meant West Australian children were paying for the Labor Government's election commitments.

"The future of our children is being put in danger to fund Labor's election pledges," he said.

Industrial action likely

Community Public Sector Union state secretary Toni Walkington said members felt betrayed by the McGowan Government and industrial action was "very likely" at the start of the next school year on February 1.

Ms Walkington said members had voted for a government that would value the public service, but that had not happened.

"Clearly, that change has not occurred. Our members are extremely disappointed and angry and feel betrayed," Ms Walkington said.

"They were promised by Labor in opposition they would be a party in government that would invest in public services. Clearly, this is not investing in public services. This is doing the opposite."

CPSU members, including school administration staff, laboratory technicians and other support staff, voted last week to take industrial action if the education cuts were not reversed.

"It's very likely at this stage. We've had no indication that the Minister, nor the department are going to reconsider what they're doing. We've got no indication there's any compromise whatsoever," Ms Walkington said.

"So of course our members will be making themselves ready to take industrial action on the first of February."

Decision could hit many small towns

Carolyn Bruse's eldest son has just completed his first year at Central Midlands Senior High School, boarding at Moora Residential College, and her daughter was set to join her brother next year.

Eneabba mother Carolyn Bruse said a daily commute to Moora is not an option for her family. ( Supplied: Carolyn Bruse )

These plans have been placed under a cloud with Moora College included on the list of education funding cuts.

Ms Bruse said Moora was a 90 minute drive from the family home at Eneabba, in the state's Midwest, so a daily commute to school was not an option.

"My son has done well there this year and I love Central Midlands Senior High School," Ms Bruse said.

"I think it's been a great high school and the boarding house, the supervisors, the managers do their jobs well and the kids love them."

Ms Bruse is employed as a casual cleaner at a nearby primary school and her husband works for the local shire.

She said alternative public schools such as Carnamah District High School did not offer ATAR courses beyond Year 10, and expensive Perth boarding schools were not an option.

"Not everyone can afford the Perth schools even on a scholarship," she said.

"Moving to Perth is not an option either … our next option is buying or renting in Moora."

"If this is putting us in a bad predicament, there's other families that have young kids in the primary school — what are their options?

"Do they have to move town completely and then give that little primary school that they're at worse numbers as well?