GREENS state candidate for Port Macquarie Drusi Megget has called for more support for Tafes.
Ms Megget said Tafe was the lowest funded of all education sectors.
She said that Tafe funding had fallen by about 22 per cent between 2003 and 2012.
“The situation has become worse in 2014 with the NSW state government implementing its Smart and Skilled policy.
“The policy allows private training providers to compete with Tafe for students.
“Superficially, this sounds fine, a level-playing field and healthy competition but in Victoria this policy had disastrous results.
“Many providers, motivated by profits, short-changed their students by delivering poor quality training, and this drop in standards was documented by the ABC current affairs program The 7.30 Report.
“The possible loss of quality education is unacceptable.
“But to add insult to injury, students will be asked to pay considerably more in fees.”
Ms Megget said Smart and Skilled received additional funding in order to cater to regional and remote areas but such funding was subject to market testing.
“So far, there is no evidence that extra funding has been allocated in the Hastings region,” she said.
“I have to question whether our regional Vocation and Education Training sector will ever receive the funding it deserves, or will our regional students be doubly disadvantaged?
“The Greens call for funding to be restored to Tafe and a fair go for regional students.
“This National/Liberal coalition government in NSW should protect our Tafe resources in regional NSW, not sell them off.”
