Victorian training sector falls behind

THE latest National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) Data released has shown the frightening reality of the Victorian training sector.

Daniel Andrews and Gayle Tierney have spent years spruiking how they have ‘fixed TAFE’ in Victoria, yet the completion rates from those undertaking training over the past three years are a damning reality check of their claims.

Victoria has fallen to have the lowest completion rate of any state for government funded training. Of the government-funded students commencing training in 2017, only 38.8% are expected to complete their training. This is an appalling contrast to Tasmania and Queensland where 60% of those students are likely to complete their training.

Further analysis reveals that completion rates in government funded courses in our TAFEs are the lowest of all Victorian VET providers at 29.6%. This compares to completion rates of 45.4% at Community Education and 46.6% at private providers.

This Government has been so obsessed with papering over the cracks in the system by enrolling more students; they have neglected to provide the necessary support to ensure students complete their training and get the skills and qualifications they need to secure jobs.

And yet what does the Labor Government do … they blame those “cost cutting” Liberals, who have been in government four of the last 20 years, and The Age journalist swallows it hook, line and sinker.

Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Training and Skills, Mary Wooldridge:

“Fixing TAFE takes more than just enrolling more students. It requires great teachers and proper support to ensure learners complete their training and get the jobs they need.

“Despite Daniel Andrews’ rhetoric, he has overseen Victoria fall behind as our students leave training without getting the qualifications at a rate higher than anywhere else in Australia.”

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