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A review of TAFE in South Australia has prompted ministerial changes . Picture : Colin Jam
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Proposed overhaul to reverse TAFE corporatisation
By NCA Newswire and Erin Nixon
TAFE SA students could have a greater choice of courses as part of a new regional push to revolutionise vocational training and help solve the skills crisis .
Training and Skills Minister Blair Boyer is expected to admit that the state government wrongly “ corporatised ” the embattled agency in 2012 to chase profits .
In one of the biggest overhauls in a decade , Mr Boyer will publish a TAFE SA blueprint including new laws after an independent review found the troubled system failed the public .
The taxpayer-funded training provider has a chequered history , with several crises , including a 2017 accreditation scandal , campus closures , course chaos , staff cuts and board turmoil .
The $ 170,000 review makes 96 recommendations to overhaul student targets , spending , funding , Indigenous programs , reconciliation , diversity , research and industry relationships .
The 10-year road map will lay the groundwork for course expansion in Defence to feed the new AUKUS nuclear submarine plans , the development of hydrogen , early childhood and care , information technology , electrics as well as concreting .
With a 20 per cent surge in enrolments this year – the first rise since 2012 – officials say “ nothing ’ s off the table ”, including reopening or launching new campuses .
It is not expected that increased student fees will fund reforms .
Mr Boyer will unveil plans to change TAFE ’ s charter from a government “ corporation ” – which chases “ large profits ” – to an authority with a “ stronger focus ” on education results .
Proposed laws will end restrictions on the minister directing changes or policy , in which education public interest trumps commercial decisions .
TAFE ’ s board won ’ t be scrapped but it will become more “ representative ”.
“ The decision in 2012 to corporatise TAFE is when the focus of our public training provider became less about the courses that the economy needs and more about the courses that were profitable ,” Mr Boyer said . “ This has had long-term impacts on TAFE .”
The government will consult on a new TAFE Act – to replace contentious laws brought in by the former Weatherill Labor government in 2012 – before a parliamentary vote next year .
It became less about the courses that the economy needs and more about the courses that were profitable
How reforms will be funded is unclear but the government said TAFE had $ 39m extra funding .
A new joint commonwealth skills agreement is also being negotiated .
Official figures show TAFE enrolments more than halved from 80,000 in 2011 to almost 34,000 last year .
TAFE now has almost 42,000 students enrolled .
The most popular courses are electrical and plumbing qualifications , while childhood education and care , cyber security , IT and project management are also in demand .
Review author Jeannie Rea , a tertiary education veteran of more than 40 years , said her 96-page report included “ quick ” fixes and long-term goals until 2033 .
Associate Professor Rea , a former National Tertiary Education Union president , said TAFE had suffered years of “ contractions ” and now has to rebuild its reputation .
“ What we want from TAFE is not currently being achieved ,” said the Victoria University academic . ■
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