Fairfax Media | 28 October 2015
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The latest Victorian training market half year report shows a marked decline in government subsided training, with 12% fewer enrolments in 2015 compared to the same time in 2014. TAFE enrolments were at their lowest point in five years.
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The report attributes the decline as likely due to a decline in foundation studies by 42% to 29,731 enrolments and a decline in traineeships by 34% to 20,258 enrolments.
Private training providers now capture 59% of government-subsidised enrolments, up from 21% in 2010.
This compares with a 27% share for TAFEs, down from 49% in 2010 and an 8% share for university VET providers, down from 20%.
There was a 13% drop in unemployed students enrolled in government-subsidised training, and a 14 % drop in 15 to 19-year-olds who had dropped out of school and enrolled in a certificate 2 training or above.
Victorian TAFE Association Executive Director Andrew Williamson said people had lost confidence in vocational education and training due to the actions of a few dodgy providers. He said the figures were “not rosy” and reflected a national trend of declining vocational education and training enrolments. He applauded the state government for launching a $9 million quality blitz on training providers, and throwing their support behind TAFEs.
The Andrews government has established a $320 million TAFE rescue fund and has appointed former Holmesglen head Bruce McKenzie to review the funding of the state’s vocational education and training system, which is due to report shortly.