Education revolution
Education correspondent
Matthew Knott
Uni fee deregulation set to go New focus on vocational training
The nation’s new Education Minister plans to boost the status of vocational training so students don’t feel they have to go to university to have a good career, as he begins a shake-up of the vast portfolio.
Plans include pushing for the Commonwealth to take over responsibilities for funding vocational education, including TAFE colleges, from the states.
The appointment of Simon Birmingham , a progressive Liberal from South Australia, offers the Turnbull government a chance to reframe the education agenda following 18 months of rancorous debate over university fee deregulation.
In an interview with Fairfax Media, Senator Birmingham – who has replaced Christopher Pyne – said he would be driven by pragmatism rather than ideology. This includes a renewed focus on vocational education and training (VET), long regarded as the country’s ‘‘forgotten’’ education sector.
University enrolments have surged since the previous Labor government uncapped places, leading business leaders to argue that too many students are going to university rather than entering the VET system.
‘‘I want to make sure parents and students consider a vocational pathway alongside a university pathway,’’ Senator Birmingham said. ‘‘The data shows employment rates for people who complete trade-based apprenticeships are around 90 per cent. Starting salaries are often better than those for university graduates and the chance of running your own small business are greater.
‘‘It’s critical that students make informed decisions and not think university is the obvious and only pathway.’’
Senator Birmingham said the Turnbull government is not wedded to university fee deregulation, paving the way for the government to dump one of the most controversial policies of the Abbott era. While universities should not be reliant on ‘‘cramming more people into lecture theatres’’ for funding, he acknowledged deregulation had been unpopular with the public and the Senate crossbench.
‘‘Deregulated fees is clearly one approach the government has put forward, but if there are different models I’m all ears,’’ he said.
‘‘As a Coalition government under Malcolm Turnbull we will be true to our values but ... we shouldn’t let what we think is the ideal to be the enemy of the good if we can make progress in other ways.’’
Dropping fee deregulation and a proposed 20 per cent funding cut would deprive Labor of one of its key election strategies: campaigning on a platform of ‘‘no $100,000 degrees’’.
Senator Birmingham said he was committed to implementing the government’s childcare reforms, which would see most families $30 a week better off, but would introduce tougher work activity tests for parents. The changes have been linked to cuts to family payments opposed by many Senate crossbenchers.
‘‘I don’t want to see any delays to those childcare reforms,’’ he said. ‘‘I want to see the full childcare package implemented but of course we have to talk to the Senate crossbench about what is achievable.’’
The transfer of childcare from the Social Services portfolio to Education is symbolically important, he said. As well as delivering economic benefits, childcare policy should also focus on early childhood education –
especially for disadvantaged children .
Senator Birmingham said there were no plans to fund the final two years of Labor’s six-year Gonski school funding deals.
‘‘We need to acknowledge that state and federal governments have ploughed lots more money into schools in recent years and with all of that extra money we haven’t necessarily seen improved educational outcomes,’’ he said. ‘‘There’s far more to getting better outcomes than just putting more money on the table.’’
Senator Birmingham said reforming the federal-state funding arrangements would also be a major focus.
‘‘We need to be clear about who is responsible for what and I will be talking to my state colleagues about that.’’
Senator Simon Birmingham.
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