Open markets for training funds have crippled some commercial colleges, according to the peak body ACPET, which says governments need to consider the impacts of their policies on private as well as public providers.
The NSW Teachers Federation and Unions NSW on Friday launched their Stop Tafe Cuts campaign, claiming plans to increase competition between public and private training providers for funds would see the deterioration of quality education.
Vocational education providers appear to be another victim of the Gillard government's push against foreign workers after it failed to implement a promise to streamline visas for overseas students.
This contrast between elite private colleges and public schools should have reignited the debate over state aid. But that was effectively shut down 40 years ago when a federal Labor government began propping up poor Catholic schools until, over time, every private school was receiving grants.
VIctoria's mercurial training market has hit a wall, with enrolments declining for the first time since government training funds were fully opened up to private colleges.
The government should look to private higher education and TAFEs if it still hopes to achieve its 40 per cent participation target, says researcher Daniel Edwards.
Call it soul drain. Private theological colleges may shepherd their students all the way through a masters degree, only to see them go elsewhere for a PhD.
THE number of students choosing private tertiary and vocational education over public has more than doubled in the past five years as students seek out specialised skills and a more personal service to get them into jobs.
Monash South Africa and Laureate Education have unveiled a partnership agreement that will enable the local higher education provider operated by Australia’s Monash University to expand its student enrolment and academic offerings.
A report commissioned by the Australian Council for Private Education and Training showed that private higher education providers could lose $50 million in revenue if they swapped full-fee places for commonwealth-supported places.
The number of students choosing private tertiary and vocational education over public has more than doubled in the past five years as students seek out specialised skills and a more personal service to get them into jobs.
Australia's largest TAFE system is under threat in Victoria after state government cuts to the state's colleges last year, and increasing competition from the more numerous private vocational education colleges that have sprung up in recent times.
Jobs website SEEK is selling its stake in a private colleges firm to a multinational higher education group with ties to former US president Bill Clinton.