A BACKLASH is building against drastic TAFE funding cuts that will leave Victoria University with a $32 million shortfall next year.
A student protest at VU’s StAlbans campus on Thursday called on the government to reverse $300million cuts that are forcing the closure of hundreds of courses and threatening up to 2000 teaching jobs.
Youth work student Damien Begg said TAFE colleges were already losing experienced staff.
“The biggest impact on all students is that fees will rise,” he said. “They are pushing towards privatisation and it will be students from lower socio-economic levels most affected.”
Deputy vice-chancellor Professor Anne Jones said VU had been taken by surprise by the size of the cuts and forced to drop courses such as animal studies and tourism. Williamstown Labor MP Wade Noonan said he
was appalled by the decision to slash funding. “We’re looking at 50 staff to go initially and 30 to 40 courses to go with it. This is gutting TAFEs
and some of the biggest losers will be those seeking skills training as well
as employers in Melbourne’s west.” Mr Noonan said the “single largest cuts in the history of TAFE” could
lead to further job losses at the end of the year.
Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury said a tough state budget meant there needed to be a restructure of the TAFE system.
“We want to make sure TAFE is about providing vocational training, providing people with the opportunity to get work by getting the qualifications they need for work,” he said. “We’re confident that will still happen under the new arrangements.”
