TAFE SA defends review of courses as union expects widespread cuts
TAFE lecturers say they’re bracing for big cuts to what they teach but the TAFE boss says it’s all part of getting the mix right.
Tertiary
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An expected radical shake-up to courses offered by TAFE SA has been attacked by the Australian Education Union but the institution has defended its need to change the mix of what it teaches.
Courses with fewer than 15 students or which are unprofitable will face the chop, a survey by the union predicts.
It has identified at least 53 courses at risk including agriculture at Naracoorte, carpentry at Mt Gambier, nursing at Port Pirie and children’s services education and care at Regency, Mt Barker and Gilles Plains.
“The government, through TAFE, has a social obligation to provide high quality vocational education in areas of need,” AEU SA president Lara Golding said.
“Courses that may not be considered ‘profitable’ still provide life-changing opportunities to the most disadvantaged members of our community.”
Ms Golding said there were also concerns more courses would become “fee-for-service” where they would not be subsidised, costing students hundreds more dollars.
However, TAFE chief executive David Coltman said a final decision had yet to be made on 2021 and courses always needed to be reviewed to respond to industry needs.
“I am excited that in 2021 we will be adding 21 new courses to our scope in the areas of water industry operations, mining, construction and animal technologies,” he said.
“With industry support we are also developing new course proposals in fusion welding, advanced cyber security and introduction to shipbuilding.
“We hope to be able to launch these in 2021.”
TAFE courses the AEU says will be cut
Courses TAFE says will be introduced
TAFE had secured a $4.5m federal grant in July which would improve technology including digital capability Whyalla, Berri and Mt Gambier.
Mr Coltman said 57 courses had been scrapped this year because no one had enrolled in them for two years.
A fifth of courses were formally reviewed each year, and scored against whether they were relevant and met student and industry expectations.
Acting Education Minister Michelle Lensink said the government had “every confidence that TAFE will continue to be a strong public training provider”.
“Our priority is delivering high quality training for students and businesses while delivering value for public money,” she said.
Opposition education spokesman Blair Boyer called for real transparency from the government on which courses would be cut.
“These cuts will disproportionately hurt regional communities,” he said.