Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, has hit back at criticisms of a review into the state’s TAFE system, recently announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
NSW Labor Leader, Jodi McKay, has labelled the review as “nothing but a thought bubble after nine years of cuts and deliberate neglect of the TAFE system”.
“This follows the Premier’s conspicuous failure to rule out privatisation of TAFE in media reports,” McKay said.
“TAFE has been decimated under the Liberals.
5,700 teachers and staff have left the TAFE system, and there are now 175,000 less students at TAFE than when the Liberals and Nationals came to power.
“The Liberals have already spent $6M on reviews.
“Gladys Berejiklian refused to rule out turning TAFE into a franchise like McDonalds or 7/11.
“This will see standards smashed, and see students pay more in fees at a time when we are crying out for more skilled workers.”
Shadow Minister for Skills and TAFE, Jihad Dib, said the government needed to “get their act together and rebuild TAFE”.
But Crouch said the Government’s aim was to overcome the bias against vocational education and get students to think of TAFE in the same way that they think of university.
“TAFE should be seen as an equal and alternate pathway to a great job and a fulfilling career,” he said.
“TAFE equips people with critical skills for the future.
“Seven out of the ten fastest growing jobs in NSW have a vocational training pathway.
“It is important that NSW has a world-leading TAFE system, which is why the Government has appointed two leading education professionals to undertake this review,” Crouch said.
Source:
Media release, Feb 25
NSW Opposition Leader, Jody McKay
Media statement, Feb 26
Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch