THOUSANDS of Brimbank students could miss out on vocational programs designed to prevent them from dropping out of school as the fallout from TAFE funding cuts continues.
Last month’s state government decision to reduce funding to 80 per cent of vocational programs has resulted in jobs being slashed at TAFE campuses across the state.
The effect is now being felt by schools.
TAFE leaders have warned principals that they will have to raise fees and reduce the number of courses they offer secondary students to cope with the $300million cuts to the tertiary sector.
Catholic Regional College (CRC) principal Brendan Watson said the cuts could take away the “dreams, hopes and aspirations” of many students.
“Many families in this region cannot afford to fork out an extra $2000 or $3000 to pay for VET [vocational education training] courses in TAFEs on top of paying their children’s school fees,” Mr Watson said.
“It is essentially doubling a family’s school fees and making it increasingly difficult for students to stay in school.”
The cuts have come after $48 million was axed last year in co-ordination funding for the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning.
Among those hit hard will be Victoria University, the biggest education provider in the western suburbs.
As reported by the Weekly, VU will shelve animal studies, boatbuilding and events and tourism courses and slash education in sports and fitness, hospitality, business and financial services. It could increase tuition fees by up to 40 per cent.
CRC’s VET co-ordinator, Marj Peel, said the school was discussing possible alternatives with VU.
“Victoria University is doing its best to negotiate with other TAFE colleges in the region,” she said.
“But it’s extremely disappointing for students who have begun VET subjects this year that they now won’t be able to finish.”
CRC year 11 student Jordan Misfud, 16, who is completing a pre-apprenticeship in plumbing, said he wouldn’t have stayed in school without the VET program.
“It’s basically the only option for students like me who want to stay in school and do more hands-on learning,” he said.
“The increase in costs will make it out of reach.”
Sunshine College principal Tim Blunt said it was hard to tell how extreme the impact would be.
“I can’t say whether it would deter students from undertaking VET studies or not, but it could certainly force them down a pathway they may not otherwise choose.”
He said costs of popular VET courses like hospitality were expected to rise by 30 per cent.
The Weekly understands that under changes forced by the funding cuts, VU will no longer cross-subsidise community programs like VET in schools.
Many principals and co-ordinators have voiced their concerns and predicted more students will choose to leave school early.
In a statement, VU’s deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Anne Jones, said the university remained committed to providing TAFE education to Melbourne’s west.
Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter Hall said the government’s changes, designed to “save the TAFE system from collapse”, would lead to more people receiving training.
But opposition education spokesman James Merlino said the funding cuts would only worsen Victoria’s job crisis.
“People have already lost their jobs because of these devastating cuts. By callously targeting vocational students, it’s stopping them from starting their careers and the vicious cycle continues.”
