SkillsPlus closed: Frankston, Dandenong schools shut as VCAL set to be scrapped across state

SkillsPlus students have been left heartbroken following the closure of all Melbourne schools. It comes as VCAL learning is set to be scrapped.

SkillsPlus students have been left heartbroken after it was announced all schools would close next year. Picture: Facebook

SkillsPlus students have been left shattered after it was announced all Melbourne schools will shut before 2021.

Students in Year 10 and 11 are set to be affected after it was revealed the Frankston and Dandenong schools will close as well as the regional BRACE Education and Training office in Ballarat.

A total of 37 students are still enrolled at Frankston and Dandenong, while a further 33 students are set to finish Year 12 this year.

SkillsPlus provided alternatives to VCE and other social and work-based skills programs, where each student received funding per hour for their VCAL courses.

It comes as the State Government on Tuesday confirmed an overhaul of VCAL, which will be replaced with another certificate that allows students to do both academic and vocational subjects.

It means the end of students deciding between the VCE or VCAL, with the new certificate rolling out in 2023 and be fully implemented by 2025.

Frankston student Kionie Hickey, 18, told the Leader she feared there was “no hope” for students who couldn’t complete mainstream school.

“There are a lot of disadvantaged youths and with SkillsPlus they felt as if they were a part of something … to have that taken away after so many years, it’s almost as if there’s no hope,” she said.

“We consider SkillsPlus as a family, like somewhere to go when you haven’t got anywhere else … it’s really tough seeing them in such a big hole.”

Ms Hickey said just two teachers were left to juggle between 40 and 50 students as a number of staff members left earlier in the year.

“Our educators have been so stressed trying to get everyone a pass this year … a lot of the teachers had no idea when their last day would be until last week,” she said.

An Endeavour Foundation spokeswoman told the Leader no new VCAL locations would be opened, with BRACE Education and Training to continue in Melbourne but not in Ballarat.

She said the SkillsPlus employment programs—JobActiv, DES and Transition To Work—will continue to be offered at Melbourne locations including Pakenham, Springvale and the Mornington Peninsula.

“These changes are taking place because the Board of Endeavour Foundation has made a strategic decision to focus on sustainability and services with a close alignment to the core mission of the organisation,” the woman said.

“The VCAL school program will finish at the end of the school year and all staff and students were informed of this at the start of Term 4.

“Staff have been offered redeployment opportunities within the organisation.

“Teachers are working with each individual student to identify the best alternative provider and ensure students are able to complete their VCAL course.”