This week’s Auditor General Report into the One TAFE modernisation program has concluded that “Commercial objectives of the program conflicted with legislated social objectives.”
In response to the report, NSW Teachers Federation Deputy Secretary (Post Schools) Maxine Sharkey said it’s now clear that the entire purpose of the NSW government’s restructure of TAFE was to save money, ultimately leading to a $250m cutting of the TAFE budget.
“This report vindicates what Federation has been saying for the last decade, TAFE does not work in a market model, TAFE NSW was set up as a public good and must remain so.”
“The Act requires TAFE NSW to provide technical and further education to disadvantaged students and communities, yet this government has attempted to turn it into a business.”
“The Berejiklian Government has allowed TAFE to be the Minister’s plaything – to the detriment of students and communities.”
The report findings also highlight insufficient reporting on spending to support disadvantaged students.
“Federation has consistently called for more transparency while TAFE has been cutting services to people with disabilities, multicultural programs and outreach.”
“It’s time the Berejiklian Government end this failed experiment of marketisation of TAFE and restore guaranteed funding direct to TAFE NSW to once again focus on providing all communities with high quality vocational and further education,” Ms Sharkey concluded.