Economy
Four-term Tassie … as TAFE enrolments tipped to drop
Tasmania’s public school system will switch to a four-term school year from 2013.
The Education Minister Nick McKim says he has accepted the recommendations of an advisory committee for four, 10-week terms.
The Minister has told a media conference the evidence suggests the system will be better for student learning.
The four-term year will replace the current three terms.
The Education Union fought against the change.
As TAFE enrolments tipped to drop …
THE state’s Adult Education system is bracing for massive price hikes to spark a large slump in enrolments this year.
Prices for some courses are expected to rise 80 per cent or more after the State Government cut subsidies in the recent Budget.
After years of decline, a half-hearted rebranding to LearnXpress and an exodus of staff, some tutors are predicting Adult Education in Tasmania is on the brink of collapse.
Projected figures show the decline in enrolments in lifestyle and leisure programs is expected to drop more than a third — down a total of 60 per cent in just eight years.
Despite repeated Government assurances Adult Education was safe, enrolments have been steadily declining since a peak of 34,000 in 2003.