Incomplete courses claim rejected

THE chief executive of TasTAFE has refuted claims that as many as 60 per cent of TAFE students will not finish their courses in 2020.

An Australian Education Union report released on Tuesday reflected concern among TAFE teachers about the effects of a greater prevalence of off campus e- learning.

AEU TasTAFE division president Simon Bailey said the cumulative impact of moving students to more online delivery hours was “deeply worrying”.

“It is TasTAFE’s job to raise the education capital of Tasmania and provide skilled and ready workers for hundreds of Tasmanian trades, industries and services,’’ he said. “The current approach from management is setting many students up to fail.”

As part of the report, 80 TasTAFE teachers were surveyed, with respondents estimating between 30 and 60 per cent of students would not complete their course in 2020.

TasTAFE chief executive Jenny Dodd said there was no evidence to support claims that course completions had declined because students had to study online due to the COVID- 19 pandemic. She said 74 per cent of enrolments in 2020 had been resulted, saying this was on par with this time of year.

“Given the impacts of COVID- 19, this is a fantastic position,’’ Ms Dodd said.

“2020 has been an extraordinary year and I’d like to commend TasTAFE teachers for dealing with the challenges of COVID- 19 with a clear plan that prioritised student learning right from the start.”

Ms Dodd said TasTAFE had quickly transitioned to online learning because of the effects of COVID and had resumed small- group practical training on May 11.

During parliamentary budget estimates hearings, Education Minister Jeremy

Rockliff faced questioning from Labor MP Michelle O’Byrne about TasTAFE and the findings of the AEU report.

Mr Rockliff accused Ms O’Byrne of “perpetuating and trying to denigrate” TasTAFE.

Ms O’Byrne highlighted concerns that educational outcomes were being affected because of online learning models. Mr Bailey said the teacher survey also revealed a range of other worries, including student- to- teacher ratios.

“The decisions being made by TasTAFE management are being sold as modern solutions, yet these decisions, teachers believe, will be to the detriment of quality,” he said.

“Without sufficient handson, practical learning experiences, good campus facilities and contact with teacher experts, education outcomes and completion rates will be adversely affected.”

Ms Dodd said while online improved access for many students, it would “never replace face- to- face experiences”.