SATAC system fault hits students applying for TAFE SA

For the second year in a row some TAFE SA hopefuls have been crushed and left in limbo after learning their acceptance offers were mistakes.

A computer glitch has led to 63 students having their hopes dashed of studying at TAFE SA, despite first being offered a place.

The students applied to study nursing and pathology but ran foul of quotas set by TAFE and the way the entry system works, which ended up with their offers being withdrawn.

SATAC chief executive Stuart Mossman.

A further 54 students also had their initial offers withdrawn, but were later given places.

The errors occurred because of a computer system fault, said Stuart Mossman, chief executive of the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre, which administers the admissions process.

Among those affected was former chef Chandra Bangaru who quit his job after receiving a TAFE offer – but who has now been left in limbo.

Mr Bangaru reportedly said he was “delighted” and “grateful” when he received an offer to study pathology. But just four days later, he was informed the offer was not available, being told only there had been a systems fault.

Applications to study at TAFE from this July opened on April 27 at 9am.

TAFE places are offered on a first-to-apply, first-in system, provided applicants meet entry requirements.

However, a coding error in the SATAC computer system failed to properly record students who applied between 9am and 10am.

“Places fill fast so the timing of the application is important,” said Mr Mossman.

“Our application system should have made offers to the earlier applicants. Instead, it made offers to applicants who applied later so the later offers were in error.”

A nursing class at TAFE SA. Picture: AAP/David Mariuz

Mr Mossman said SATAC was now working case-by-case to assist the 63 students who unsuccessfully applied for certificate III in pathology collection, diploma of nursing and diploma of nursing/bachelor of nursing.

In November last year, 2000 students were offered a place in an email error by TAFE with many of those offers withdrawn.

The 2021-22 state budget allocated an extra $215 million to TAFE SA to compensate for it not meeting efficiency savings and revenue targets which had been set earlier.