High fees, cut funds 'attack' TAFE
The teachers' union yesterday called on the State Government to wind back changes to the TAFE system, saying it was being undermined by funding cuts and rocketing student fees.
State School Teachers Union vice-president Samantha Schofield said fees for some courses had increased by more than 300 per cent this year.
The union has launched a petition calling for a reduction in fees to 2013 levels and a restoration of funding. It said the "attack" on TAFE would lead to more students dropping out, more courses being amalgamated and fewer qualified workers for industry.
Ms Schofield said the changes to TAFE had led to a fall in student numbers of more than 5200 and fees were likely to rise next year because a fee cap on many courses would be removed.
Premier Colin Barnett said there was no plan to remove the fee cap altogether. "The TAFE system is primarily funded by the State Government," he said.
"There has been a rise in fees and while the percentage increases look high, I think the rate of recovery in fees is less than 20 per cent of the cost of providing the course."
