The Government is failing young people in Tasmania trying to get a job by its repeated underfunding and mismanagement of TasTAFE.
While Labor is strongly advocating to rebuild TasTAFE and has a plan for free tafe courses in areas of skills shortages, the Government continues to degrade the public provider.
Shadow Minister for TAFE, University and Skills, Michelle O'Byrne, said today's reports that TasTAFE will no longer offer contact learning will severely disadvantage hundreds of students.
"How can the Government realistically think TasTAFE can deliver successful training to students enrolled in courses like electrical or automotive without practical hands-on learning?
"I have been contacted by parents of many TasTAFE students concerned about the move to online and the effect this is having on students already struggling to catch up since the COVID-19 crisis.
"This is just another nail in the coffin for TasTAFE which has been hit by persistent budget cuts imposed by the Government, low morale and staff shortages resulting in several course cancellations.
"The Government is all talk and no action when it comes to addressing Tasmania's skills shortage.
"Here we have a Government that runs a skills forum but doesn't even invite key sector representatives and then turns around and cuts hands-on learning at TasTAFE - it's a disgrace.
"This government is denying Tasmanians the opportunity to become skilled through the public trainer - they are denying Tasmanians a pathway to jobs.
"Labor has called on the Government to implement our $10 million free TAFE policy to provide 5000 students the qualifications they need to find jobs in our fastest growing industries, including the building and construction, hospitality, aged care and disability services sectors.
"We need this more than ever in the recovery post COVID-19.
"Instead, Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff seems determined to see TasTAFE fail."
Michelle O'Byrne MP
Shadow Minister for TAFE, University and Skills
