Ahead of next month’s election, MPs Ryan Park, Anna Watson and Kiama candidate Glen Kolomeitz collectively slammed the Baird government’s vocational education reforms.

Mr Park, the Member for Keira, emphasised Labor’s commitment to the public education sector. 

‘‘Private colleges have a role but there needs to be a bias towards TAFE,’’ he said.

‘‘Under Labor, the amount of  funding to private colleges will be capped with priority given to TAFE.’’

Taking aim at the Smart and Skilled packages’ subsidies for courses offered at private colleges, Mr Park said Illawarra students were disadvantaged by the model due to geography.

‘‘People in regional and rural areas need access to education while these colleges tend to be centred in Sydney,’’ he said.

Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson said the Smart and Skilled reforms took away ‘‘second chances’’ from people in the region. 

‘‘These reforms are not Smart and Skilled, they are Dumb and Dumber,’’ she said

‘‘They are taking away a lot of second chances for people to get an education or a better job.’’

Labor’s candidate for Kiama, Mr Kolomeitz lambasted his sitting MP Gareth Ward for standing with his government’s reforms.

‘‘Gareth Ward says one thing in his office on Terralong Street and another at the State Parliament on Macquarie Street,’’ he said. 

‘‘He should apologise to the constituents of Kiama for lying in 2011 when he made a pledge not to attack TAFE.’’

Mr Ward cited Mr Kolomeitz’s accusations as another example of Labor ‘‘completely ignoring the facts’’. ‘‘He’s lying, we have increased funding by 11per cent and announced 2000 scholarships for disadvantaged students,’’ Mr Ward said.

‘‘All we’re trying to do is promote courses encouraging people into employment.

‘‘TAFE should be focusing on courses that lead to jobs and a future earning capacity.’’

brianna.parkins@fairfaxmedia.com.au