The Liberals promised to employ 100 TasTAFE teachers as part of a $100m investment

A new document shows the Liberals re so far struggling to fulfil a pledge to hire 100 more TasTAFE teachers.

THE number of teachers at TasTAFE has decreased since the state election despite a state government pledge to employ 100 more teachers, documents reveal.

However the state government says it is just beginning start of its campaign to recruit more teachers and trainers for TasTAFE.

Information released to Franklin MP David O’Byrne following a Right To Information request shows the number of teachers/trainers employed at TasTAFE as at May 1 2021 was 482 (head count) and 412.82 (Full Time Equivalent).

The number of teachers/trainers employed as at March 2022 was 483 (head count) and 408.71 FTE.

At last year’s state election the Liberals promised to employ 100 more TasTAFE teachers as part of a $100m investment in TasTAFE over four years.

Generic shot of someone from the construction industry. For TasTAFE editorial for Back to School feature for Hobart Mercury

The plan was funded in the following state budget.

TasTAFE initially rejected Mr O’Byrne’s RTI request on teacher numbers, however released the numbers following a review of the decision.

Labor MP David O'Byrne. Picture: Kenji Sato

Mr O’Byrne said the decrease in teacher numbers was another disappointing blow to the education sector.

“It’s been over a year since this government announced its contentious and ideological plan to carve off the management of TasTAFE to an independent board,” he said.

“It was a policy spurred by just one PESRAC recommendation that called on TasTAFE to adopt a ‘Jetstar’ model of education and training.

“This government’s complete failure to follow through on this election commitments is a sign that their ideological plan to corporatise TasTAFE has fallen at the first hurdle.

“This government have just handed down a budget that delivers $14.5m of cuts to TasTAFE over the next three years, and today we learn than their election promise for 100 extra teachers has been a complete sham.”

TasTAFE student, Yanbin Zhang and electrotechnology teacher, Caroline Alexander. Yanbin is retraining from his old career in China as a journalist and editor Photos by Matt Thompson

Skills, Training and Workforce Growth Minister Roger Jaesnch said there had been approximately 15 new teachers recruited under the “Be a Life-changer – Be a TasTAFE teacher” campaign.

Mr Jaensch said the campaign was the start of the Tasmanian Government’s initiative to recruit 100 new teachers over the next four years, supported with more than $40 million funding, including $7 million in this year’s budget.

“Monthly fluctuations in teacher numbers do occur, for example in response to course demand or timing,” Mr Jaensch said.

“A comparison of teacher numbers from March 2021 to March 2022 shows an increase in full time equivalent teachers, and importantly TasTAFE continues to actively recruit new teachers.

“As was explained in Estimates recently, teacher recruitment has been challenging across a range of high demand areas such as construction trades like building, plumbing, and electrical, and caring industries such as nursing, community care, and aged care.

TasTAFE needs a dynamic teaching workforce that is flexible and adaptable to training needs. In the future some teachers may choose to work for TasTAFE at peak times while continuing to work in industry.

Originally published as The Liberals promised to employ 100 TasTAFE teachers as part of a $100m investment