PROTESTERS targeted the state government this week, as declining student numbers, and cuts to services prompted a rally at Inverell's TAFE campus.
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NSW Teacher’s Federation organiser Kathy Nicholson said Inverell’s campus has about 50 enrolments at the moment. Numbers are down from 922 total enrolments last year, and 331 in semester one of 2015.
It is a substantial decline from the 1420 Inverell enrolments in 2011.
“I am absolutely devastated by what this Liberal/National party government has done to TAFE,” Ms Nicolson said. “It’s beyond belief.”
The figures were announced Wednesday afternoon’s rally at the Inverell campus.
NSW Greens MP Dr John Kaye came to Inverell for the rally after a similar event at Armidale’s TAFE campus.
He said the NSW Department of Education and Training’s Smart and Skilled reforms and state budget cuts to TAFE have driven the institute into a competitive business market for students, and it is not winning.
“If we don’t stop it, there will be another round of Smart and Skilled at the beginning of next year,” he said.
“The budget figures suggest that 33 per cent of the TAFE’s budget will be up for grabs from the private providers.
“That’s getting to be a dangerous level. If that grows to 43 per cent, TAFE begins to follow the way it did in Victoria.”
He believed TAFE may have a 12 month window to turn the boat around before it faces a future like the Victorian TAFE system which now has only 20 per cent of students in the training sector.
Dr Kaye took Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall to task on the issue.
Dr Kaye felt support from Mr Marshall was critical to save TAFE.
He said Mr Marshall was a talented young man, but had been inert on the issue.
“On TAFE, he is nowhere. He refuses to stand up for TAFE in his electorate,” Dr Kaye said.
“He’s sat back and watched this TAFE and all other campuses across the New England region lose 75 per cent of their students.”
Dr Kaye believed Mr Marshall had watched the loss experienced TAFE staff who may have become valuable mentors for younger teachers lose their jobs with the TAFE cuts.
“He’s stood back and watched the devastation of the key ingredient of the future of this region.”
Mr Marshall said he has never refused anybody who wanted to discuss an issue and helped several TAFE students and staff within the electorate with issues about the institute when called upon.
“My door is always open. If there is an issue, come and talk to me,” he said.
Mr Marshall said there were key points to consider about NSW vocational training.
“In the state budget, there was $2 billion set aside for TAFE which was the most funding TAFE has ever had,” Mr Marshall said.
“It’s $122 million more than last year.”
Mr Marshall said there are more government–funded training places in NSW than ever before, and that number will continue to grow.
“Remember now, the funding follows the student, so the government’s going to fund more training places than ever, but there’s no guarantees they’ll be at TAFE, because the student will choose where they wish to undertake a course and the funding follows,” he said.
"It’s not just about one institution. It’s about what’s the best educational pathway for that student.”
It’s not just about one institution. It’s about what’s the best educational pathway for that student.
- Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall
Mr Marshall said there are still 200,000 fee-free scholarships available for any qualification from Certificate I-IV for eligible people.
He added it was interesting to note recent vocational training trends.
“Enrolments in vocational education across Australia, have been in decline for the last five years,” he said.
“It’s bizarre, yet our skills needs are increasing. It’s across the board.”
Dr Kaye said though NSW TAFE was in decline, it was not too late to make a change. He said a NSW Parliamentary upper-house inquiry was launched on June 15 into Vocational Education and Training
The non-partisan committee led by Hon Paul Green MLC has been open since June 15, but encouraged Inverell residents to make a submission during the TAFE rally at the Inverell campus on Wednesday.
Mr Marshall said he had shared thoughts with NSW Minster for Skills John Barilaro on the issue.
Dr Kaye said if TAFE enrolments and course offerings continue to collapse, it would make the institute unsustainable.
“Without a guaranteed budget for TAFE, without TAFE having secure access to funds, the forecast is extremely grim,” he said.
“I can see a situation in which the New England region does not have a dominant public provider for school’s education within five years.”
Ms Nicholson said in a recent meeting with TAFE New England director Peter Heilbuth, she was told TAFE has a commitment to stay in the region.
“But it might not involve the current buildings and things that we have,” she said.
“So what will it be? Will it be a website at the library?”
About 25 people turned out for the Inverell rally. Students, staff and local residents arrived to hear addresses by Ms Nicholson and Dr Kaye.
Former Inverell TAFE educator Richard Ward taught maths and science at TAFE for about 20 years. He attended the rally and was disheartened as he looked around the quiet campus.
“I’ve been back from time to time over the years, but I’m just horrified today to find that the place is deserted,” he said.
“There’s no students, don’t see any classes going on, or anything.”
He said he recalled the life of the campus in years past.
“It was a throbbing place of learning when I started, and for many years,” he said.
“So it’s just such a contrast between when I was teaching and what’s happened in the last year or two.”
There’s no students, don’t see any classes going on, or anything.
- Richard Ward
Richard’s dismay was echoed by former student Kim Woodley.
Kim completed two certificates in 2014 and is looking for work as a teacher’s aide. She came to the rally to support the institute that has been part of her family’s life for a few generations.
“I came today because I think it’s a real important thing, not just Inverell, but people in general to get more skills,” she said.
Kim completed certificates in early childhood education and as a teacher’s aid. Her mother was a student back in the early 1990s. She said she has a son in high school and wants him and others to have options for the future.
“That means they’ve got a choice if they want to go to university, if they just want to go to TAFE and become a plumber or a builder or a welder,” she said.
Kim said her son wants to be a scientist or inventor, but wanted him to have a security should he change his mind.
“(If) he decides he wants to do an apprenticeship or something else, if there is no TAFE for him to do it, what does he do?” she asked.
Ms Nicholson questioned how Inverell can skill people for expansion in jobs at employers like Bindaree Beef and Boss Engineering when TAFE is in decline.
She was alarmed at the lack of enrolment in training relevant to a regional, engineering and agriculturally-driven community as a former head teacher at the Inverell TAFE.
“This TAFE campus that people fought to get in Inverell; this public education infrastructure, is now in great danger” she said.
“This semester, in a town like Inverell, which is full of engineering, primary industries, full of those sorts of industries, food production - zero enrolments in trades and primary industries,” she said.
“This is so wrong.”
Dr Kaye encouraged the public, teachers or students to add their thoughts and experiences about TAFE and other vocational training providers via the web site: http://j.mp/TAFEinq2016.
The deadline for submissions is August 14.