DOZENS of TAFE SA students across the region face uncertainty over their qualifications amid revelations the public training institution has failed an accreditation audit for a string of courses.
It is understood courses affected at the Mount Gambier campus include automotive, hairdressing, commercial cookery and plumbing.
These courses are among the most popular at the Mount Gambier campus, which has been hit with staff, course and budget cuts in recent years.
Grant District Mayor Richard Sage yesterday said the budget cuts must be reversed at the Mount Gambier campus.
The district mayor – who has been a vocal critic of the budget cuts – said the accreditation failure demonstrated systematic problems plaguing the education institution.
“TAFE has been turned upside down – the proof is there now, the cuts have gone too far,” Mr Sage said.
He claimed the problems were being driven by the need for the institution to become cost effective and move away from providing “social justice” education.
“It just shows how much pressure TAFE is under – treasury is pushing for it to become a lean and mean machine,” Mr Sage said.
“This is a real concern for our community given for more than 100 years TAFE had an outstanding reputation as a quality training provider – these qualifications were well sought after.”
He said the situation must become a key election issue given the decimation of courses and skills in Mount Gambier.
Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell also weighed in on the issue yesterday by describing the situation as a “complete debacle”.
“This audit was random and 16 courses were found to be non-compliant with standards,” Mr Bell warned.
He said students paid to undertake the courses, which now may not lead to a recognised qualification.
“I have written to Education Minister Susan Close to find out how many students are affected at Mount Gambier, but she is on holidays,” Mr Bell said.
TAFE SA education executive director Brian Rungie said the organisation’s management took all matters associated with the quality and compliance of its training “extremely seriously”.
“The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) audit looked at activity and identified some issues that our own internal quality systems had already identified and rectified,” Mr Rungie said.
“We have made significant progress to address other elements identified during the ASQA audit.”
He said TAFE SA would provide additional information to ASQA on the corrective action taken both before and after the audit.
“ASQA has stated that it is not unusual for providers with a range of delivery as broad as TAFE SA to identify areas requiring attention,” Mr Rungie said.
“TAFE SA is committed to responding quickly and will continue working closely with ASQA to address the issues raised.”
Liberal education spokesperson John Gardner was also scathing of the government’s handling of the TAFE system.
“The Weatherill Labor Government has proven yet again it cannot get the basics right,” Mr Gardner said.
“The people of South Australia – and especially the 2000 students who may be affected as they prepare themselves for their careers – deserve a government that is open with the people of South Australia and focused on fixing the mess.”
