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OTEN TAFE teachers stop work
12 May 2008
By Amber Flohm
TAFE Organiser
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OTEN teachers protest
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TAFE Teachers from Western Sydney Institute's Strathfield Branch met with Ms Virginia Judge, Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Training, this morning at 11 am. The delegation of OTEN teachers raised three important issues. These were the downgrading of teacher qualifications to a Certificate 4; the latest instalment of Doing Business in the 21st Century and the increase in TAFE student fees.
At the conclusion of the meeting, teachers from OTEN stopped work and protested outside Ms Judge's office in opposition to the downgrading of their qualifications. Protestors were well supported by local people in Strathfield as OTEN teachers explained TAFE's agenda to withdraw support previously provided to new permanent TAFE teachers in their first two years of teaching to enable them to become professionals in education, as well as in their vocational background. Members of the public chanted with TAFE teachers as well as tooted their horns in support of the protest.
The Women's Contact at OTEN, Lyn Waddell, said: "The Director-General and our Institute Director, Mr Ron Wright, want to appoint new teachers without giving them the background in education which has made TAFE such a strong institution in Australia. At a time when skilled workers are in short supply, this would further de-skill our community and Australia. Teaching is a profession and there is much to learn about teaching adults in order to teach well. It's not the same as doing a brief course to become a trainer."
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