With youth unemployment in Macarthur at over 16 percent, the Baird Government should be properly funding TAFE, not cutting its legs out from under it, says local MP Greg Warren.
He was speaking today after he and Labor’s new shadow minister for skills, Prue Car, visited Campbelltown TAFE to discuss Labor’s funding guarantee bill.
“We need to invest in TAFE to equip the Macarthur workforce with the skills required for the jobs of today and those of the future,’’ Mr Warren said.
Labor has put forward legislation it says will rescue TAFE from the targeted attack by the Liberal Government.
Labor’s plan guarantees at least 70 per cent of the vocational education and training (VET) budget will be allocated to TAFE.
The Technical and Further Education Commission Amendment (TAFE Funding Guarantee) Bill 2015, was introduced into the Parliament by Opposition Leader Luke Foley with the support of Mrs Car and Mr Warren.
The Bill will cap contestable public funding for private education providers at a maximum of 30 per cent – preventing the Baird Government from shifting public funding from TAFE to private providers.
While private providers play a role in skills training, Labor says the vital role TAFE plays must be protected.
Mr Warren said the volatile private sector has seen the recent collapse of a number of VET providers, including Aspire College of Education and Evocca College, both of which had campuses in Campbelltown, leaving thousands of students high and dry.
He says that under the Liberals’ reforms of the vocational training sector, TAFE is being forced to compete with the scandal ridden private sector for its funding.
Many students have been discouraged from enrolling in TAFE since the introduction of the Government’s Smart and Skilled program which has seen:
• $1.7 billion cut from education and training;
• 4,600 TAFE teachers and support staff sacked;
• Student fees dramatically increase, with some basic courses costing up to $4,000 a year; and
• 27 TAFE sites flagged for sale and or closure.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“The Baird Government has refused to learn from the mistakes of their Liberal colleagues in Victoria,’’ Mr Warren said.[/social_quote]
“In Victoria, TAFE is sadly no longer the dominant vocational education and training provider. Just as in NSW, the cost of training skyrocketed, following reforms, while quality plummeted.’’
Mr Warren and Mrs Car said that under a NSW Labor Government, a strong, well-funded TAFE system will “ensure we grow reliable vocational and education training and a skilled workforce throughout the state’’.
“Labor will always stand up for the strongest possible public education system,’’ Mrs Car said.
“Reserving at least 70 per cent of all public funding for vocational education and training for TAFE will ensure the institution’s future here in Campbelltown and across NSW.
“Labor’s plan will make TAFE sustainable, affordable and accessible for the people of Campbelltown.’’
