NSW Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, Geoff Lee has told the Mercury the review announced recently was not about the privatisation of TAFE NSW.
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"The NSW Government is committed to TAFE as a comprehensive public provider of skills and training," Mr Lee said.
His comments come after Illawarra's State Labor MPs expressed concern TAFE courses and campuses across the region could be cut.
Their concern came after Mr Lee refused during question time on Thursday, to guarantee TAFE services would not be cut following the recently announced review.
"This Government has set about decimating TAFE since they took office which has left us with a skills shortage.
"They will stop at nothing until they completely dismantle TAFE," Shadow Minister for the Illawarra Ryan Park said.
"Under the cover of a review, the Berejiklian Government is paving the way for fewer courses and even the closure of more campuses."
Wollongong MP Paul Scully said there was a "cloud of uncertainty hanging over the West Wollongong TAFE campus".
"I have written to the new Chief Executive Officer of TAFE NSW requesting a firm guarantee that the West Wollongong TAFE campus will remain open and safe from any closure plans the Government may be planning," he said.
Mr Lee told the Mercury Mr Scully was wrong.
"There are no plans to divest the West Wollongong TAFE NSW campus," he said.
"Let me be clear. This review is not about the privatisation of TAFE NSW.
"This review is a great opportunity to ensure TAFE delivers students with the skills that industry want.
"We want to make it easier for industry to partner with TAFE so we can foster better collaboration and job outcomes for students.
"TAFE needs to cater for future industries, future jobs, future skills: Aerospace, robotics, AI, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing are jobs of the future."
But Member for Shellharbour, Anna Watson argued the Government had "waged an unprecedented war on TAFE" since coming to power in 2011.
She said there were now 5700 fewer teachers and staff and 175,000 fewer students.
"Under this Government, the once bustling Dapto TAFE campus was closed down and replaced with a mere shopfront in Dapto's CBD," Ms Watson said.
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.
