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Greens working to stop TAFE privatisation
Tuesday 27 July 2010
The public provider of skills training and further education is being undermined by unfair competitive tendering for funding and damaging reductions in state and federal budget, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
Speaking at a forum at Bega TAFE at 12:00 noon, Tuesday 27 July, Dr Kaye will say: “The economic future of the South-East depends on quality vocational education and training.
"The development of the skilled workforce and opportunities for the long term unemployed are being sacrificed by the Gillard government's fixation on competitive tendering, private providers and squeezing every last drop of funding out of TAFE.
"Bega TAFE has lost money both to private providers and to state and federal government budget cuts.
"Competitive tendering is a race to the bottom in quality education and teachers' pay and conditions.
"It all adds up to lower quality outcomes and less focus on the needs of the students and the community.
"This year Illawarra TAFE was underbid by a lower cost private provider for federal funding for the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program.
"Across NSW $50 million disappeared from TAFE's budget into the hands of the private sector.
"Over the last decade, State and Federal governments have slashed per student funding in NSW by 30 percent. More than $700 million has disappeared from the annual budget.
"The strain is being felt by students and teachers. In the long run, the ultimate cost will be carried by the community, with fewer qualified tradespeople, less economic development and lower quality services for the unemployed.
"All sides of politics should join the Greens in working to restore funding and protect TAFE from the threat of privatisation,” Dr Kaye said.
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455
