Jo Haylen MP, the Member for Summer Hill, today questioned why the Certificate III Electrotechnology Electrician class will be discontinued at Petersham TAFE, along with the Instrumentation class.

Students in the class have reportedly been told they need to move to other campuses to complete their course and teachers need to look elsewhere for employment.

Ms Haylen joined Prue Car, the Shadow Minister for Skills, at Petersham TAFE to condemn the Baird Government’s continued attacks on TAFE education in NSW. The Government’s Smart and Skilled program has seen:

• $1.7 billion cut from education and training;
• 4,600 TAFE teachers and support staff sacked;
• Student fees dramatically increase, with some basic courses costing up to $4,000 a year; and
• 27 TAFE sites flagged for sale and or closure.

Labor has put forward legislation to rescue TAFE from the targeted attack by the Liberal-National Government.

The Technical and Further Education Commission Amendment (TAFE Funding Guarantee) Bill 2015, was introduced into the Parliament by Opposition Leader Luke Foley with the support of the Member for Summer Hill and Shadow Minister for Skills.

Labor’s plan guarantees at least 70 per cent of the vocational education and training (VET) budget will be allocated to TAFE – preventing the Baird Government from shifting public funding from TAFE to private providers.

While private providers play a role in skills training, the vital role TAFE plays must be protected.

The volatile private sector has seen the recent collapse of a number of VET providers, including Aspire College of Education, Evocca College and the Australian Careers Network.

Under a NSW Labor Government, a strong, well-funded TAFE system will ensure we grow reliable vocational and education training and a skilled workforce throughout the state.

Quotes attributable to Member for Summer Hill

“I’m very concerned more courses are being moved out of Petersham TAFE.

“Labor will always stand up for the strongest possible public education system.

“Reserving at least 70 per cent of all public funding for vocational education and training for TAFE will ensure the institution’s future in the inner west.

“Labor’s plan will make TAFE sustainable, affordable and accessible for the people of the inner west, including at Petersham.”

Quotes attributable to Prue Car, Shadow Minister for Skills

“The Baird Government should be properly funding TAFE, not cutting its legs out from under it.

“We need to invest in TAFE to equip the Sydney workforce with the skills required for the jobs of today and those of the future.”