October 16, 2015
The Australian Education Union says the Federal Government’s move to implement minimum prerequisites for students enrolling in vocational education and training does not go far enough to address the unlawful and unregulated conduct of dodgy private training providers.
“This vocational loan scheme has blown out by 150 per cent over the past year. That’s $2 billion of taxpayer’s money squandered on unregulated training providers,” AEU spokesperson Meredith Peace said.
“This is more than a regulatory crisis. The government must go further to stem the flow of cash to for-profit training providers. It must immediately block funds going to private-for-profit training providers that are rorting the system.
“Last year the number of students enrolled in vocational training increased by more than 100 per cent as dodgy training providers lured students with offers of free laptops and other incentives.
“Profit-driven colleges can access unlimited government funding with no requirement to deliver minimum course hours. Students are then graduating from sub-standard training or not graduating at all, and the taxpayer is left footing the bill.
“Public TAFEs are the solution.
“If the government is serious about high quality vocational education and training they must cap contestable funding available to private colleges at 30 per cent and legislate to guarantee 70 per cent of the existing VET funding to public TAFEs.
“Public TAFEs are trusted by the community to deliver educated and skilled graduates, ready to enter the job market. Public funds are being defrauded, the government must act.
“At the moment the funding system encourages rorting. We need a capped funding system with public TAFEs resourced to deliver the education and training communities want and need.”
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