DESPITE the fears of the New South Wales Teachers Federation, Singleton TAFE will continue to develop programs to suit and meet the needs of the community.
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The Federation is fearful the state government’s Smart and Skilled reforms are going to equal job losses and, possibly, the closures of smaller campuses.
They claim the new “contestable funding” policy will allow “low-quality, for-profit providers access to get access to public funds previously reserved for TAFEs”.
“This policy has already done huge damage in Victoria, where TAFE’s share of the training market has collapsed to just 27 per cent, as poor quality providers milk the funding system and deliver substandard training to students as the taxpayer’s expense,” NSW Teachers Federation local TAFE organiser Rob Long said.
“Singleton TAFE has already lost two metal fabrication teachers earlier this year and students wishing to do welding have to travel to Cessnock.
“Now there is talk further cuts will mean this class will close too.
“Students would then have to travel to Newcastle or Muswellbrook.”
New figures obtained from the “change management plans” that TAFEs are required to submit to Education Department show the Hunter Institute of TAFE has lost a gross total of 176 teaching and support staff, he said.
Hunter TAFE institute director Phil Cox said there are no immediate plans to close any campuses and the consolidation of delivery at various locations allows them to ensure that its students have access to the best facilities, with the latest technologies and industry leading teachers.
“The areas where staff has been affected are in areas of declining industry demand, including the downtown in mining and manufacturing industries,” he said.
“However, Hunter TAFE will still deliver programs in these areas based upon sufficient student demand for these programs.
“Hunter TAFE has successfully won a contract for 2015 under the Smart and Skilled tender.
“The contract allows Hunter TAFE to continue the provision of quality education, focusing on providing students of the region with innovative, high quality learning experiences and job-ready training outcomes.
“We will develop programs to suit and meet the needs of the people of Singleton.
“Just as businesses and other organisations have changed to remain relevant so too must Hunter TAFE, to ensure we meet the demands of our customers.”
Mr Cox said they review the delivery of all programs each year and will continue to so we can remain viable under the Smart and Skilled model.
“Changes to programs will include greater flexibility, including combining small classes, reducing delivery hours, and consolidating delivery locations and increasing the component of workplace delivery,” he told The Argus.