ALA

The Federal Government is proud to be spearheading the reopening of old style technical schools to help reduce Western Australia’s skills shortage.

Responding to a clumsy, politically inspired attack by the state Labor Education Minister, Mark McGowan, the Federal Minister for Vocational and Further Education Andrew Robb AO MP said today, “One of the biggest mistakes we made as a community a generation ago was to close down technical schools. It’s ironic that Labor is continuing to talk down the trades as if they were second class careers.”

“Minister McGowan should apologise to students, apprentices and employers for his dishonest comments on the new Australian Technical Colleges,” Mr Robb said.

Two and a half years ago the Howard Government outlined a bold $485 million plan to reopen technical schools across the country; 20 are already open and another three, including one in the Pilbara, will open this year.

“The success of these new trade schools comes from a strong link to industry. The board of the new Pilbara campus is made up of representatives of some of the world’s largest mining companies including BHP and Rio Tinto,” the Minister added.

Since 1996 the Howard Government has invested $197 million in Vocational and Technical Education infrastructure in Western Australia. During the same period the WA Government has spent just $97 million.

“Australian Technical Colleges provide year 11 and 12 students the dual option of starting a trade apprenticeship at the same time as completing their year 12 academic studies. They are not duplicating the TAFE system, which is targeted at post secondary students,” Mr Robb said.

“Trade training in the twenty first century requires a significant expenditure on modern equipment; just putting a microwave and an old lathe in a secondary school classroom as some suggest, is not adequate in a modern, fast moving economy that has a shortage of highly skilled trades men and women.”

“One size fits all secondary schools are not the answer for technical training. A return to dedicated technical schools provides a vital element to the choices necessary at secondary level”.