mmg.com.au

Covering the Goulburn and Murray valleys
FEBRUARY 9, 2012 4:56am

Concerns over TAFE funding cuts

The Victorian TAFE Association is warning that regional TAFE campuses such as the one in Echuca could be impacted or even closed if State Government funding is cut.

By Zach Hope

VTA said it was concerned the government would act on recommendations to cut funding by as much as $230 million over four years, which it said would result in course closures, reduced places and staff redundancies.

It said funding cuts to TAFEs in regional Victoria could amount to around $65 million over four years.

Bendigo TAFE acting chief executive officer Maria Simpson, who oversees the Echuca campus, did not address the potential funding cut directly but said the current market training environment required TAFE to continually review its costs.

‘‘Bendigo TAFE is certainly feeling the pressure of government policy changes which have led to increased competition and reduced fee payments,’’ Ms Simpson said.

‘‘We are currently reviewing our operations and looking to find efficiencies, improvements and enhancements in all areas.’’

The office for Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter Hall could not be contacted yesterday.

Premier Ted Baillieu last year announced the Coalition Government would contribute $3 million to a project led by the University of Ballarat to increase regional students’ access to higher education and training.

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