Labor Candidate for Summer Hill Jo Haylen said today that Labor’s $100 million TAFE Rescue Plan would ensure more students at inner west TAFEs did not miss out on education and job opportunities because of the Liberal’s unfair fee increases.

Labor Candidate for Summer Hill Jo Haylen said today that Labor’s $100 million TAFE Rescue Plan would ensure more students at inner west TAFEs did not miss out on education and job opportunities because of the Liberal’s unfair fee increases.

Within one term, a Labor Government will:

• Abolish the Liberal’s ‘Smart and Skilled’ privatisation program;
• Reverse the Baird Government’s TAFE fee hikes;
• Guarantee funding to TAFE by capping the amount of public funds that can be contestable by private operators at 30 per cent; and
• Commission a landmark review of education and training in NSW after Year 10.

 “Equipping the people with the skills to get a good job is an urgent challenge for NSW – especially in an era of rapid technological change,” Ms Haylen said.

“TAFE is critical for anyone seeking a technical or vocational qualification, or looking to complete high school or re-train.

“We need to fund TAFE and give people opportunities, not discourage them by loading them up with debt, cutting courses and sacking teachers,” Ms Haylen said.

Since 2011, the Liberal/National Government has cut $1.7 billion from education and training, sacked 1100 TAFE teachers and support staff, cut TAFE courses and slashed class contact times and drastically increased student fees by up to thousands of dollars.

In 2015, fees have risen significantly, with 40% of students being slugged an extra $500 to $1500 for courses.

Launching the scheme, Labor Leader Luke Foley said, “The challenge of giving our young people the skills for the jobs of the future is not being addressed by the Baird Liberal Government.

“Instead, the Liberals are taking us backwards and ripping the heart out of the TAFE system in NSW.

“Quality education and training is the key to a better job, a better career and a better life – that’s why Labor is committed to investing in skills and training.

“A Labor Government will invest an additional $100 million to help make TAFE affordable and accessible for everyone in NSW by winding back the privatisation of TAFE and stopping the course cuts and fee hikes.

"The funding will also allow TAFE institutes to reinstate vital courses which have been cut, and restore support services for students.

“We can’t undo the Liberals’ mess overnight, but we will bring back affordable fees in the first term of a Foley Government, and make TAFE a world leader in providing vocational education and training.”