THOUSANDS of Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay students could miss out on vocational programs designed to prevent them from dropping out of school in the latest fallout from TAFE funding cuts.
The state government decision to reduce 80per cent of vocational program funding has meant job losses at TAFE campuses, including at least 60 positions at Victoria University.
VU, the western suburbs’ biggest education provider, faces a $32million funding shortfall.
Schools are finding Vocational Education and Training in Schools courses will also suffer cuts.
TAFE leaders have warned principals they will have to raise fees and reduce the number of courses to cope with the $300million cuts.
Last year, $48million of co-ordination funding for the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning was cut.
VU deputy vice-chancellor Professor Anne Jones said the university remained committed to providing TAFE education to Melbourne’s west.
But The Weekly understands VU will no longer be able to cross-subsidise community programs like VET in schools.
VU works with more than 2000 students across 80 schools including Bayside College, Williamstown High School and Laverton College.
VET programs include aero skills, automotive, business, engineering, hairdressing and hospitality. Costs are expected to rise by 30per cent as VU is forced to recover costs from the programs.
Many principals and co-ordinators have voiced concern and predicted that more students will choose to leave school early.
Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter Hall said the changes, designed to save the TAFE system from collapse, would lead to more people receiving training.
But opposition education spokesman James Merlino said the funding cuts would worsen Victoria’s job crisis. “People have already lost their jobs because of these devastating cuts. Callously targeting vocational students has stopping them from starting their careers and the vicious cycle continues.”
Williamstown MP Wade Noonan said the cuts would lead to students leaving school early and not completing year12. “Helping students complete their year12 should not be reduced down to whether a school can afford to offer a program such as VET,” he said.
