Send a letter from new website

by Diane Hague

A new "I Support TAFE" website has been launched to coincide with the Federal election.

The site includes the National TAFE claim on Federal and State governments by the Australian Education Union (AEU).

The AEU estimates that an additional $470 million, minimum, is required in 2008 to fund TAFE to address the skills crisis across Australia.

The site has a letter to Prime Minister John Howard, ALP leader Kevin Rudd, Greens leader Bob Brown and Democrats leader Lyn Allison and education spokespersons of political parties, asking them whether they will make a public commitment to a significant funding increase for TAFE before the federal election.

Federation asks members and other supporters of TAFE to go to Isupporttafe.com.au and send the letter to the politicians named.

More than 1.3 million students go to TAFE a year. TAFE delivers thousands of courses in almost every trade, vocation and profession and in all types of ways to suit students and industry. More than 75 per cent of delivery in vocational education and training in this country is still through TAFE.

TAFE is the organisation that can address the skills crisis in Australia if it is properly funded and supported. But the Federal Government has decreased funding in real terms to TAFE by 26 per cent since it was elected in 1996. Instead, the Government has squandered millions on Australian Technical Colleges and private providers.

The Federal Government has also made it clear that, if re-elected, it would tie future funding of TAFE to the imposition of a WorkChoices style agenda, including Australian Workplace Agreements; more autonomy for Institutes and the threat of directing funding to private providers to force change. In the interests of TAFE and public education in general, this country can't afford another Howard Government.

Diane Hague is the Administration Officer (Media and Communications).

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Last Modified: 25 Oct 2007