Standing Committee on Employment, Education
and Workplace Relations
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Submission 44
ASPA
AUSTRALIAN SECONDARY PRINCIPALS ' ASSOCIATION
28 October, 1997
RE: Inquiry into the Appropriate Roles if institutes of Technical
and Further Education
The Australian Secondary Principals Association is please to make this
brief submission to the above Inquiry. The Association represents almost
all principals of government secondary schools through its affiliates
in each of the states and territories. A number of these affiliates may
make submissions from the perspective of their state or territory. What
follows is a brief series of comments from a national perspective.
- TAFE should largely be driven by vocational outcomes but there should
be a Cooperative and complementary interface with secondary schools.
There should not be wasteful competition or duplication - indeed there
ought to be access for schools to TAFE facilities at a reasonable cost
where specialist facilities and courses are not available in schools.
The delivery of a realistic. broad VET curriculum depends on such access
in many areas. Unfortunately the cost of access for secondary students
often precludes them from taking advantage of the courses offered.
- The trend in a number of states towards mutual recognition Of courses
and the award of a single certificate is desirable and should be encouraged
It broadens course and career options and raises the status of TAFE,
offerings, Where possible the interface should be seamless with
students receiving appropriate unbiased career advice when choosing
courses in years 11 and 12 and beyond.
- As a general rule funding for VET programs should be devolved directly
to schools. It should not be subjected to "Entering" by systems
or ANTA. Schools can deliver these programs more cheaply and with less
disruption to students and their families within the supportive and
familiar environment of the local school,
- Merging of TAFE and university into single institutions is seen as
desirable provided it results in more opportunities for students, while
maintaining appropriate standards for both institutions. Indeed such
arrangements should lead to more choice for young people with the opportunity
to broaden experiences as well as to change options if circumstances
alter. There will be positive effects on the perceptions of status of
courses, leading to more realistic and relevant choices.
- Some experiments have already combined the resources of all three
modes (schools, TAFE and university) to deliver programs to some communities
- chiefly in remoter areas. Them arrangements could be expanded if closer
relationships between TAFE and universities could be developed. Obviously
there will be a need to modify management structures and processes but
the limited experience to date demonstrate', that this is possible.
- The main aim of any change should be the delivery of improved services
to all of the nation's young people, not just those who choose to go
to university.
- It is essential that players in the provision of educational services
are not labelled the "poor relations" and expected to simply
pick up the problems of the residualised. Australia needs a coherent.
structured but seamless education system which is as inclusive as possible
and which allows our young people the best possible chance of success
in the rapidly changing world of the future. Chiefly we need our governments
to show real leadership and to take education seriously. It is distressing
to this Association to witness the lemming-like rush of states and territories
to reduce spending on education without a long-term vision being put
into place, while at the same time they constantly criticise the products
of those systems. Australia's education system are respected overseas
- it is sad that they are constantly criticised at home. What is needed
is for governments to start talking up our achievements and to make
education a major priority as the Clinton and Blair governments have
done. This Association trusts that any reorganization of the TAFE University
interface is not another cost caning exercise. but a genuine attempt
to wake a difference for the good of the students.
Should your Committee require any further information we would be happy
to assist.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Martin
ASPA Executive Officer
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