The TAFE Community Alliance is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to restore the sector to its former glory.
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But with the NSW election less than a week away, the Alliance holds genuine fears of achieving this aim.
Alliance spokesperson Linda Simon said nevertheless members would continue to advocate on behalf of TAFE to bring pressure to government to allocate more TAFE funding to ensure it returns to the organisation it once used to be.
"We are concerned about the government attacks, the competitive trading market, the effects this combined has had on loss of courses, loss of teachers and loss of quality in the system," Ms Simon said.
As such the alliance emailed all candidates standing for the March 23 election with three questions:
Do you support increased government funding to ensure a sustainable publicly funded TAFE NSW?
Will you work to oppose the continuation of the competitive training market in vocational education, and ensure TAFE NSW is supported as the public training provider in this state?
Do you support local TAFE colleges for local industries and communities, ensuring a wide range of hands on training facilities across this state?
Almost all respondents from Labor, the Greens, Animal Justice Party and Small Business Party answered yes to each question.
"We have been overwhelmed by the response," Ms Simon said.
"People really care about the future of TAFE and they are all really concerned about what has happened.
"They all said they were committed to rebuilding and re-energising TAFE if they get elected."
She said candidates wanted a well-funded TAFE system in NSW with local accessible courses.
One candidate commented "I too have been distressed and angered at the undermining of TAFE through harsh budget cuts and the seeming support provided to private industry groups that offer less ethical and efficacious training".
Another candidate added it was "absolute disgrace what governments, state and federal, have done to Australia's TAFE system and the way in which they have encouraged and supported private companies to enter and profiteer in a field of vocational and further education of such vital importance to this nation's future".
In an email to Ms Simon, Deputy Premier John Barilaro said over the last four years the government had revolutionised vocational education in NSW. It plans to add an extra 100,000 fee-free TAFE courses and construct eight new TAFE campuses in regional NSW.
She said the Alliance will continue campaigning to "ensure that NSW has the TAFE system it needs and deserves".
Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
