Mixed reaction to TAFE cash injection

CHISHOLM Institute CEO Maria Peters has welcomed a $200 million State Government injection into the TAFE sector.
But critics say the move won’t make up for $300 million in cuts last year that could cause more damage.
On Tuesday, Ms Peters and TAFE board chairs and CEOs from around the state attended a meeting called by Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter Hall.
He released the TAFE Reform Panel report A Strong and Sustainable Victorian TAFE Sector, which included 19 recommendations setting the direction for the future of TAFE institutes.
The government fully supported 12, supported six others in principle and allocated $200 million over four years to support structural reform.
Ms Peters said the money would be allocated in accordance with criteria to be set by the government.
She said the Chisholm board and institute management would look at opportunities available to access funds to support its business needs and transformation process.
Mr Hall said the cash was designed to help TAFE institutes secure their presence within the broader vocational education and training industry.
The government did not support the panel’s recommendation that would have seen a common governance and management structure across a number of TAFEs.
“The Coalition Government believes it is critical to maintain local input into TAFE operations,” Mr Hall said.
He said the government would streamline reporting requirements, allow TAFE institutes more control over workplace relations and modernise the institutes’ constitutions.
It will also give TAFE institutes greater control of their assets by transferring property titles, allowing them to re-invest the proceeds from sales.
But the Opposition said this move would allow TAFEs to close and sell campuses.
Opposition Skills and Apprenticeships spokesman Steve Herbert said the funding “won’t do a thing to help the thousands of sacked TAFE staff, and the tens of thousands of students who have seen their course disappear or their fees go through the roof”.
“Put simply, today’s announcement of $200 million over four years does not address the damage caused by the $300 million a year cut announced in last year’s budget,” he said.
“Campuses have already closed, courses have been cancelled, fees have gone up – the cuts have already had an effect.”