Peter Dutton pledges $260m to build 12 Australian technical colleges and get high-schoolers into trades

A Coalition government has pledged $260m to get more high school students to take up trades instead of pursuing university, after the opposition indicated it would cut the Labor’s Free TAFE program if it wins government on May 3. The funding will go towards rebooting a former Howard-era policy to significantly upgrade or create 12 Australian Technical Colleges, with a minimum of one campus in each state. The speciality schools allow students in years 10 to 12 to enrol in apprenticeship or traineeship based courses while also studying academic courses, which allow them to obtain both a Year 12 Certificate and trade accreditation. Coalition’s skills and training spokeswoman Sussan Ley pointed towards countries like France and Germany where 50 per cent of school student pursue “critical skills pathways in schools’. In comparison, “just one per cent of Australian secondary school students take up a school-based apprenticeship,” she said. “We have always rejected the idea that if you haven’t made it to university then you haven’t made it in life — and that principle underpins this significant announcement,” she added. Peter Dutton said the investment was way to boost levels of young people taking up trades, and help plug critical skills shortages, like construction and carpentry. “Not enough students are taking up the skills we need to solve the urgent national challenges we face,” the Opposition Leader said. “A new national network of Australian Technical Colleges will help skill the next generation of workers we need to build more homes and infrastructure, and our efforts in areas like defence and nuclear energy. “I want to fix the skills crisis. Under Labor, we have lost 90,000 apprentices and trainees and we are determined to reverse that decline.” The announcement comes after the Coalition’s education spokesperson Sarah Henderson indicated a Dutton government would scrap Labor’s free TAFE policy, with the Opposition arguing the 80 to 90 per cent completion rates for technical colleges far exceed TAFE courses. First reported by news.com.au, the Liberal frontbencher was filmed telling voters in Geelong that the policy was too expensive and not delivering. “The free TAFE policy, I am sorry. It’s just not working. I am trying to be polite,’’ she said. “But the free TAFE policy has cost this country $1.5bn.” Senator Henderson said the technical colleges would give families “greater choice on the education which best suits their children”. “Australian Technical Colleges will provide young people with an exciting opportunity to get a head start on in demand skills,” she said. “Getting a start on a skills-based career can be a real game-changer for students, especially those living in areas of acute skills shortages.” Labor will incentivise apprenticeships in key areas related to housing and construction by providing $10,000 cash incentives staggered throughout the course. Instead, the Coalition will give $12,000 to support small and medium businesses to take on apprentices and trainees.