On the day students started the 2016 TAFE year, Campbelltown MP Greg Warren has condemned the Baird Government’s “destructive plan that is tearing the institution to threads’’.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Warren said that under the Baird Government’s Smart and Skilled program, student enrolments across NSW are down by more than 30,000 and thousands of TAFE teachers and staff have been sacked.
“The Liberal government has overseen the biggest cut to TAFE funding in its history,’’ the local MP said.
“Since 2011, $1.7 billion has been ripped away from education and training.
“While these figures reflect the government’s cuts across NSW, they are consistent with what is being experienced by TAFE staff and students in Campbelltown.
“At a time when we should be encouraging people in our growing region to seek further education, and upskill our workforce, the government has done anything but.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“The number of young people completing apprenticeships and traineeships has dropped to its lowest level since 2010 – while youth employment stays high,” Mr Warren said.[/social_quote]
He said that with youth unemployment in Campbelltown well above the state average at more than 15 percent, young people should be provided with an avenue to enter the workforce by learning new skills or retraining.
“Instead the Baird Government is pressing ahead with more cuts,’’ Mr Warren said.
“Last week Skills Minister John Barilaro admitted on ABC radio that he would be finding “more efficiencies” in the TAFE sector and flagged further cuts to “backroom positons”.
Mr Warren says that since the introduction of Smart and Skilled program the Liberal Government has:
Cut $1.7 billion from education and training, sacked 2,100 TAFE teachers and support staff and slashed class contact times;
Student fees have dramatically increased with basic courses now starting at $4,000 whilst many students now face fee increases in excess of $1,000;
Flagged closing and selling 27 TAFE sites this financial year to raise $63 million to fund a shortfall in the IT budget – which has come as a result of the botched LMBR scheme.
