Australia | At least 500 layoffs in TAFEs

At least 500 jobs could be slashed from Victorian TAFEs (JMM: the largest vocational education and training provider in Australia) and there are concerns schools in poorer areas will struggle under measures announced in the state budget.

The government will slash spending on four in five vocational courses as part of $100 million in cuts to skills funding.

Victorian TAFE Association executive director David Williams will meet with vocational education providers on Thursday to discuss the impact of the cuts.

It was too early to tell if some will merge, however job losses could total hundreds, he said.

“It’s very hard to estimate but across the sector I think that you’d be struggling to contain it below 500 and it could be substantially more,” Mr Williams said.

“I’m talking there in equivalent full-time terms.”

Surging demand has pushed up the cost of the government subsidy for TAFE courses to $1.3 billion this financial year. It will be cut to $1.2 billion next year…

Source:

via At least 500 Victorian TAFE jobs to go.