The Tasmanian Greens today said that the Bartlett government plans to introduce an age-based priority enrolment system at the Polytechnic, which will result in students aged over 24 only being allowed to enrol after younger age groups have been prioritised.
Greens Leader and Education spokesperson Nick McKim MP said that Mr Bartlett’s refusal to address this matter when asked in Question Time today, can only be interpreted as confirmation that the Polytechnic is considering implementing a priority enrolment system for next year, based on the age of potential students.
“David Bartlett has spruiked his Tasmanian Tomorrow reforms as being inclusive and as providing extra opportunities for students, but he has been very silent about plans for the Polytechnic to introduce a priority enrolment system next year, based on student age groups,” Mr McKim said.
“The Greens understand that students aged 15-19 would be given first priority for Polytechnic courses, followed by students aged 19-24, with students aged over 24 only allowed to enrol if there are places available after the other two age groups have been given priority.”
“Tasmanians aged over 24 who wish to train or re-train from next year, may end up missing out due to their age, or will have to pay much more for a course at the Skills Institute.”
“What is at risk here is that mature-aged students, who previously may have attended TAFE, are going to be forced to pay more at the Skills Institute to retrain or upskill, or just miss out all together due to the prohibitive costs.”
“Where is the data, from this self-proclaimed data-driven Premier, to justify bringing in an age priority enrolment system? Where is the public consultation?”
Mr McKim explained that the Polytechnic fee structure is capped at $990 (GST inclusive), whereas the Skills Institute courses can be charged on a full cost recovery basis.
Nick McKim MP Greens Leader
