It has been revealed Education Minister Adrian Piccoli and 15 government MPs signed a pledge promising to guarantee TAFE funding and hire more TAFE teachers — ahead of their decision last Tuesday to cut an unprecedented $1.7 billion in education funding for NSW.
NSW Teachers Federation TAFE Organiser Kathy Nicholson said TAFE jobs would go and fees increased under the cuts, contrary to the ‘Invest in TAFE for a Better State’ pledge signed by NSW MPs, including MPs Andrew Stoner and Leslie Williamson, last February.
“TAFE fees are set to increase by 9.5 per cent for what the Government has referred to as ‘government supported places’. This cut is just the start,” Ms Nicholson said.
“Last year the NSW Government ran a consultation called ‘Smart and Skilled’ in Tamworth, around the future of vocational education and training. The consultation appeared to be about restructuring and privatisng the TAFE sector.
“Similar policies have led to 2000 job losses and the closure of rural and regional TAFE colleges in Victoria.
“Now it is clear that, in the future, people in our community won’t be able to go and do a TAFE course of their choice. Only some courses will be supported by government funding. In fact, already today, Fine Arts courses in areas that are not considered to be experiencing employment growth will attract higher fees.
“To make matters worse, those the least able to afford TAFE, those eligible for concessions, have had the amount they have to pay increased by nearly 100 per cent, from $53 to $100.
“Prior to the election, several National Party members, including the Minister Adrian Piccoli, Deputy Premier, Andrew Stoner and Port Macquarie MP, Leslie Williams, signed up to ‘Invest in TAFE’,” Ms Nicholson said.
“They pledged to back the workers and teachers in TAFE, to make sure their jobs weren’t contracted out, and to govern for the common good and ensure that everyone in NSW had affordable access to a TAFE education.
“It’s time for our electorate to remind their elected representatives of this promise.”
