The TAFE sector in Victoria is facing the most dramatic change in recent history, change so significant that a large number of jobs within the public sector may be at risk and TAFE fees will rise.
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NTEU calls for TAFE reform guarantee
26 August 2008
Victorian PremierJohn Brumby launching the Government's policy on Skills Reform.
The National Tertiary Education Union has called on that the State Government guarantee that no public TAFE will suffer a loss of income under its skills reforms, announced Matthew McGowan, NTEU Victorian Secretary today.
“The commitment to additional funding is welcome, especially for the Adult and Community Education Sector, however there remain significant questions about the ability of this package to solve the skills dilemma,” said Mr McGowan
“We are disappointed that there is no direct increase in the rate TAFEs are funded, the student contact hour rate, as is being provided to the Adult and Community Education Sector.”
“The NTEU does not believe that demand will necessarily increase, given that costs for students will nearly triple over three years. Since the government’s funding increases are based on demand increasing, we remain concerned that funding for public TAFEs could actually decrease due to higher student fees.”
“Opening up Victoria’s under funded TAFE system to private operators who are focused on profits rather than education will not do anything to ensure that Victoria’s skills shortage is addressed. A substantial part of the increased investment is for private providers that already provide training services with no government subsidy. Questions remain about quality of teaching and provision of student services in the private sector.“
“We are concerned that these changes will result in our public TAFEs losing public funding as a result of increased competition and decreased demand due to higher fees.”
“What NTEU members want to hear is a guarantee from Minister Allan and Premier Brumby that no public TAFE will suffer a loss of income as a result of these changes,” said Mr McGowan.
“In addition, there needs to be real teeth on any quality requirements imposed on private training providers, to ensure that standards and quality of teaching and services is ensured,” he said.
For further information contact:
Matthew McGowan, Secretary, NTEU Victorian Division
Phone: (03) 9254 1930
Mobile: 0417 054 110
Email: mmcgowan@vic.nteu.org.au
Appendix
The NTEU welcomes the following aspects of the reform package:
- Increased funding for Adult and Community Education sector
- Removal of cap on funded places
- Skills for Growth programme
- Fee reductions for lower level programs
The NTEU remains concerned about the following:
- Up to tripling of student fees for higher level qualifications over three years, which may decrease demand
- Voucher system to determine funding (“training guarantee”)
- No direct increase in student contact hour rate of funding for TAFEs
- Quality and standards of teaching and services in private sector
- Job security for public TAFE staff in the event of demand decrease
- Diversion of public funds to private training providers that currently provide training with no government subsidy
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Authorised by Matthew McGowan, Secretary, NTEU, Victorian Division, Level 1, 120 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, Victoria, 3205