Mark Brownlie (Wollongong TAFE), Terry Kofod (West Wollongong TAFE), Bob Collareda (Wollongong TAFE) and Peter Sullivan (Wollongong TAFE) object to the TAFE teacher qualification changes.

TAFE education quality at risk

Teachers are angry about the downgrading of new teachers' education qualifications.

Teachers from Dapto, West Wollongong and Wollongong TAFE colleges met in front of the office of Illawarra Institute Director, Di Murray, to personally present her with a letter objecting to the teacher qualification changes on April 10.

Addressing teachers, TAFE TA President Rob Long challenged Ms Murray to a debate with teachers over her support for the downgrading of TAFE permanent teacher qualifications.

"Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been quoted stating 'Australia's economy needs higher level skills' and states that we can increase 'productivity through supporting employees to realise their potential', however, in NSW Minister Della Bosca and his chief Michael Coutts-Trotter try to achieve the opposite by downgrading the education qualifications for permanent TAFE teachers," Mr Long said.

"It was important for the teachers to personally present the letter to highlight their strongest objection to the Institute Director's support for a policy that will undermine the professional status of our work. We were determined that this correspondence would not be just another email listed in the inbox or a letter at the bottom of the in tray," he added.

Federation relieving TAFE Organiser Astrid O'Neill said: "This action follows on from strong support for further industrial action at Tuesday's [April 8] two hour stop work meeting for school and TAFE teachers on staffing issues, where the topic of the downgrading of TAFE teacher qualifications drew hisses from teachers."

Mr Long said that currently TAFE employs more than 5000 permanent qualified adult vocational education teachers. The quality of the TAFE system is based on these permanent qualified teachers delivering vocational education in partnership with industry specialists and other part time or casual discipline experts to more than 500,000 students across NSW.

"The TAFE system is centred on the permanent qualified TAFE teachers developing and delivering curriculum and learning resources for a wide range of vocational disciplines. To remove the professional qualification of TAFE teachers takes a vital element out of the teaching and education environment," he said.

Ms O'Neill said: "Ms Murray has been a strong advocate of the decision to downgrade the qualification offered to new permanent TAFE teachers from a university qualification in education to a certificate in training. This certificate can be obtained in as few as three days, and does not provide new TAFE teachers with a foundation in education".

"Ms Murray wants to appoint new teachers without giving them the background in education which has made TAFE such a strong educational institution in Australia. At a time when skilled workers are in short supply, this would further de-skill Australia", Ms O'Neill said.

"We are aware that Ms Murray was one of the prime movers behind this cost cutting change, that's why we want to deliver a letter of protest to her. Teaching is a profession, and there is much to learn about teaching adults in order to teach well. It's not at all the same as doing a brief course to become a trainer. It will have a major impact on the outcomes for our students."

The Wollongong teachers demanded that all new permanent teachers appointed in second semester 2008 are able to access fully funded teacher education courses at a university, and also the appropriate release from face to face teaching while gaining the qualification.

Mr Long said: "It is important to have a debate about the ramifications of this qualification downgrading.

"We were denied this debate and any consultation before the decision was handed down on December 21, 2007. We will again contact Ms Murray about fronting teachers as to why she wants to undermine the TAFE educational environment."

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