AEU WELCOMES GREENS COMMITMENT TO FEE-FREE TAFE

The Australian Education Union has welcomed the Australian Greens commitment to fee-free TAFE for all students.

“If achieved, this commitment would make an enormous difference to our members and the students they teach,” AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said.

“Today, the Centre for Future Work released a report describing the fragmentation and disarray of Australia’s vocational education and training system. The neglect of the Morrison Government has seen government subsidised TAFE enrolments at historic lows and apprenticeship completion rates collapse.

“The drift towards short-term, low quality and non-accredited courses are leaving Australians without the skills and qualifications they need to be successful in the workplace.

“Additionally, our TAFE members report increased workloads, increasing casualisation and shaving of teaching hours.

“TAFE should be the anchor of our vocational education system. We are delighted that the Australian Greens have committed to reversing the Morrison Government’s TAFE cuts, ensuring better job security for TAFE staff, slashing casualisation and ensuring students get the skills and qualifications they need to get a job.

“In public TAFE, students have better education to jobs pathways and more comprehensive, accredited qualifications. Proper funding of TAFE will increase available courses, see students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities and more teachers.

“We call on all political parties to commit to preserving at least 70 per cent of total government vocational education funding for public TAFE institutions.”

-ENDS

Media contact: Dishi Gahlowt, 0434 159 833, dishi.gahlowt@essentialmedia.com.au