Students call for TAFE closures over COVID-19
TAFE students are campaigning to close their own higher education providers as classes continue despite schools remaining shut over the coronavirus crisis.
Education
Don't miss out on the headlines from Education. Followed categories will be added to My News.
TAFE students are campaigning to close their own higher education providers as classes continue despite schools remaining shut.
More than 1000 people have signed a petition to close William Angliss Institute, which is running cooking lessons and practical classes as other education sites close over the coronavirus pandemic.
“Everyone was expecting classes to stop,” said a William Angliss student, who did not wish to be named.
“We've found it extremely odd that TAFE is remaining open and we’re hearing every day we should stay home as much as possible and schools are closed.”
The commercial cookery and patisserie student said as few as two students had turned up to her classes.
She said classmates were grappling with the conundrum of falling behind if they don't attend, but potentially putting their health at risk if they do.
“We’ve felt our education had been really compromised,” she said.
More than 1100 William Angliss students had last night signed a change.org petition calling for the TAFE to suspend all face-to-face classes.
TAFEs, Registered Training Organisations and Learn Local programs are not subject to non-essential service shut downs.
Premier Daniel Andrews this week announced that schools would remain shut after Easter, while William Angliss is preparing to welcome students back for its second term after a week break.
Opposition spokesman Tim Smith said keeping TAFEs open was “another inexplicable inconsistency”.
“Could Daniel Andrews please explain why cake decorating courses are more important to be conducted in the classroom than year 12?” he said.
A Department of Education spokeswoman said TAFEs were operating in line with advice from the chief health officers.
“The Department has strongly encouraged TAFEs to deliver training online or remotely wherever possible,” she said.
“Where face-to-face training must occur, TAFEs must follow the physical distancing guidelines in line with advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer.”