Two Wyndham secondary schools have come out in defence of trade training centres, saying they are “highly successful” and used well.
The comments come as federal Assistant Education and Training Minister Scott Birmingham trumpeted a scathing review of Labor’s Trade Training Centres (TTCs) in Schools program.
Senator Birmingham said the independent review commissioned by the Abbott government found TTCs were “more about flashy new buildings than training” and some facilities were “at risk of becoming white elephants”.
TTCs are in-school training facilities for students in years 9 to 12 and apprentices.
Mackillop College VET-course leader Mark Westgarth said his school’s TTC, which focuses on mechanical engineering and fabrication, was “very successful”.
“It’s brilliant. Victoria is the only state with a dedicated certificate for vocational training so that might be a reason they’re flashy, but the students are specially trained,”
Mr Westgarth said.
“[The training centre] meets the needs of our kids, and we’re still only in the initial stages. It’s also being used for teaching a technology subject for younger students, and Gordon University is also hoping to use it, so the whole community can benefit.”
Senator Birmingham said the independent review was commissioned because “employers told us that TTC graduates did not have the skills they needed”.
“Unsurprisingly, the review finds TTCs were failing students and employers because Labor rushed the policy, focused on buildings rather than student outcomes, and failed to establish any performance benchmark,” Senator Birmingham said.
This review focused on TTCs that opened before 2012. Wyndham’s facilities are not covered.
Last month, the $3.2 million TTC at Thomas Carr College in Tarneit was opened. It is part of a $9.4 million pledge by the former federal Labor government to build four trade training centres – at Thomas Carr College, The Grange P-12 College, Mackillop College and Wyndham Central Secondary College.
The Grange P-12 College principal David Smillie said the 80 students enrolled in the automotive technology subject at his school had a foot into the industry. “I know they’re all very well used in Wyndham,” he said.
“We’re currently in negotiations with local business and major corporations to see where we can link in with them and use the TTCs for apprentice training.
“It’s about time that kids in the west had access to quality resources.”
What do you think?
Post a comment below.
