Both parties promise brighter future for TAFE

Both parties promise brighter future for TAFE
Image: Photo: Joe Bourke

By Emily Contador-Kelsall

 

Early February, Premier Mike Baird and opposition leader Luke Foley announced their parties’ commitments to TAFE ahead of the state election.

Baird announced $86 million as part of Liberal’s Reskilling NSW plan with $48million going towards TAFE scholarships for disadvantaged young people.

The NSW Labor party has promised $100 million of funding towards TAFE, pledging to make TAFE more affordable by reducing fees.

Minister for education Adrian Piccoli said the Government’s vision for TAFE is clear.

“TAFE will remain the public provider of VET in NSW.

“Our announcement of 200,000 fee-free scholarships for disadvantaged students will help some of the most vulnerable people into study and work.”

Penny Sharpe, Shadow Minister for transport, said only a Labor government will be able to rescue TAFE.

“The Baird government has slashed TAFE to the bone, they are now putting out little announcements about what they are going to fund , this is on top of the fact that they have sacked 11 hundred staff and hiked fees for students and lost a lot of courses.”

“TAFE is a public policy success story that needs to be protected and enhanced not destroyed.”

Both parties have been criticised over their policies.

Baird’s government was accused of hypocrisy and Greens MP John Kaye criticised Labor’s promise to reduce fees after having increased the cost of TAFE whilst in office.

A student in jewellery and object design at the Sydney TAFE Design Centre Enmore said course fees affected her decision to study although as she was enrolled in an advanced diploma course with only one-year left, the increase in fees would not affect her.

“We had been told fees would go up.”

“Surprisingly I received a letter at the end of last year with the estimation of $1800 for the year and another one mid-January this year with the exact course fee which was $2500.”

“Some of my classmates who were not enrolled in advanced diplomas but were interested in doing the course have to pay almost 5 times more than me. Although, the exact amount is not finalised yet.”

Ms Sharpe said the importance of TAFE could not be underestimated.

“It’s a place where we actually train people for the skills that we need all across NSW.”

“Labor’s position around TAFE is about rescuing TAFE and bringing it back to where it was, which is the very successful vocational education system that it is.”

Mr Piccoli said the NSW Governments wants NSW to continue to lead the country in sustainable economic growth.

“We can do this by ensuring we prepare a skilled workforce to lead us into the future. Maintaining a strong, viable system of dynamic and innovative TAFE institutes will help NSW to achieve this,” Mr Picolli said.

“In just four years, the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government has created more than 145,000 new jobs.”

Ms Sharpe said the Liberal Government has sought to “undermine TAFE” through cuts in education, staff and hiking of fees.

The TAFE student said the two different approaches had definitely affected her vote in the past and will affect it in the future.

“The huge gap between the two fundings is quite shocking for me as I believe that better and more accessible education for everyone could be a great investment for the future of a country.”

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