LABOR politicians joined students and teachers outside TAFE New England’s Tamworth campus on Tuesday to protest against the state government’s cuts to the educator.
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Opposition skills spokeswoman Prue Car said analysis by the NSW Teachers Federation estimated $7 million had been cut from New England institutes in the form of 81 sacked employees, in the five years since the Baird government had been in power.
“They don’t believe in TAFE and they’re wielding the axe in a systematic attack,” Ms Car said.
“More cuts to TAFE means a bleaker future for areas like the New England. The most devastating impacts from cuts are always in country and regional areas.
“You just need to look at the value that TAFE provides economically to business communities – TAFE is the place that churns out apprentices, who go on to work in businesses that contribute to the economy. Cuts to TAFE means apprentices have less time to learn, courses are shorter and less people going into TAFE because the fees are so high.
“Businesses and the economy will suffer if we are turning out substandard results.”
NSW Teachers Federation spokeswoman Kathy Nicholson said TAFE New England was in the process of cutting business teachers, literacy and numeracy teachers, and head teachers.
The next lot of cuts will be to wraparound services, such as counsellors, disability services and Aboriginal services.
“It was really amazing and moving a lot of members from the deaf community showed their support at the protest, because the cuts to the specialist teacher support positions are going to dramatically impact them,” Ms Nicholson said.
“A lot of teachers are scared and nervous; they’re all wondering, ‘Who does the axe fall on next?’”
Labor MLC Daniel Mookhey said supporting TAFE was about the “long-term independence and viability of New England region and its economy”.
“The reality is, if you’re giving up on TAFE today, you’re giving up on Tamworth tomorrow,” Mr Mookhey said.
“If people can’t get skills where they live, they can’t get jobs where they live and they will leave.
“You go to places like Narrabri and they tell you there are skill shortages for the mining support industry, yet at the same time the local TAFE is being gutted.”
Ms Car said Labor had a bill in the NSW Parliament, which would guarantee funding for TAFE.
“We really believe in our policy,” she said.
The Leader contacted TAFE New England, but the institute declined to comment.