Bartlett Must Commit to Course Remaining at Polytechnic, not Skills Institute
The Tasmanian Greens today called on Premier and Education Minister David Bartlett to intervene and ensure that the Teacher Aide’s course will continue to be offered at the Tasmanian Polytechnic, following concerns that the course will instead be offered at the Skills Institute, despite it being advertised in the Polytechnic handbook for next year.
Greens Leader and Education spokesperson Nick McKim MP said that the Skills Institute fees are structured differently to those of the Polytechnic, and should the course shift to the Skills Institute students may have to pay for up to $3000 to train to become Teacher Aides.
“David Bartlett must ensure that next year’s Teacher Aides course remains affordable, and that Tasmanians are not priced out of learning by the course being shifted from the Academy to the Polytechnic ,” Mr McKim said.
“The simplest way out of this mess is just for Mr Bartlett to reverse the decision and ensure that the course is taught at the Polytechnic as promised in the 2010 handbook.”
“Currently at the Polytechnic the maximum fees are $990, and in some cases are as low as $275, yet in contrast students at the Skills institute may have to pay up to $3000 or more to train as a Teacher’s Aide.”
“Tasmanians also deserve to know whether the 2010 Polytechnic Handbook contains other courses which will either not be offered, or will actually be offered by the Skills Institute.”
Nick McKim MP Greens Leader and Education spokesperson
