Students fight cuts to TAFE

Issue 

Students fight cuts to TAFE

By Sam Wainwright

BRISBANE — Queensland TAFE students and workers have won a small victory in their struggle to stop huge cuts to the system by the Borbidge government. In response to community outrage, the government pressured the Southbank Institute of TAFE administration to reverse its decision to scrap a disability access course.

The government's most recent budget cuts $113 million from the TAFE system. TAFEs are being forced to operate on a profit-making basis. This means a growth in full fee paying courses, scrapping non-profitable courses and fewer staff and resources for students. Already the Cooparoo campus library has been closed.

On July 24, 40 students protested at the Cooparoo campus. Daniel Lambert, a TAFE student at Southbank campus, told Green Left Weekly, "These sorts of actions by students and staff must continue and escalate. The decision to reverse the course closure at Southbank shows that if there is enough protest and resistance, we can force the government on to the back foot."

Students and staff will not be able to rely on TAFE administrations to argue their case for them. The administrations moved quickly to implement the government's cuts, and the Southbank campus administration has tried to stifle student protest.

Lambert tried to book a room at Southbank campus to convene a student meeting to discuss the cuts, but was denied access. "We have to totally reject any attempt by the administration to infringe on our right to organise in the way that we see fit", Lambert said.

Students who want to fight the cuts have called an organising meeting for July 29 at 3pm in the Southbank campus library. Possible actions include a protest at the Southbank campus open day on August 6. For more information phone Daniel Lambert on 3254 0565.

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