Victoria’s training sector lags behind under Labor

Shadow Minister for Training, Skills and Apprenticeships, Steph Ryan

Official figures released today show under Daniel Andrews Victoria’s training system is experiencing the biggest decline in enrolments of any state or territory.

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) released a quarterly update into Australia’s government-funded vocational education and training (VET) system on Monday.

Victoria experienced a dramatic decline in VET student enrolments – down 13.2 per cent (from 211,100 in January to March 2015, to 183,200 in the same period in 2016).

Nationally, there was a decline of 4.7 per cent.

Student numbers improved in Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory.

There was a drop of 19.7 per cent in the number of subjects studied in Victoria in the March 2016 quarter. Nationally, subject enrolments declined 1.1 per cent.

Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Training, Skills and Apprenticeships Steph Ryan

“Daniel Andrews’ promise to grow enrolments and ‘rescue’ Victoria’s TAFEs was a lie.”

“Under Labor, students are turning away from Victoria’s training sector in droves – at nearly three times the rate of national figures.

“At a time when Victoria’s TAFEs need stable leadership, Minister Herbert has gone on leave while all of Victoria’s TAFE institutes are without boards.

“It shows Daniel Andrews’ so-called ‘rescue’ of TAFEs is a complete failure and another broken promise.”
Media contact: Emma Manser 0437 225 386 emma.manser@opposition.vic.gov.au