Funds hope

By Lia Bichel
STUDENTS and teachers across Casey remain hopeful that the State Government will reverse its decision to cut $12 million funding to the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL).
Since the announcement last month, VCAL students and co-ordinators have voiced their concerns to their local MPs about how the cuts could be detrimental to many students’ futures.
While fears are rife that jobs will be lost and students will suffer, Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter Hall’s spokesman James Martin said it was only the additional co-ordination funding used to establish the program that had been discontinued.
He said the changes would not impact students undertaking VCAL and should not impact on teachers’ jobs.
Mr Martin said additional support would be provided to schools through the work of workplace learning co-ordinators across the state and established Local Learning and Employment Networks ( LLENS), that broker partnerships with employers, industry, community organisations, business and other education and training providers.
Mr Martin said funding for the delivery of VCAL programs in 2012 was maintained and provision for growth in enrolments had been provided for in school funding.
Despite Mr Martin’s comments, Shadow Minister for Education Rob Hulls said the cuts made no educational or economic sense. Executive Officer of South East Local Learning and Employment Network (SE LLEN) Andrew Simmons, Narre Warre North MP Luke Donnellan and Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley said there would be a negative impact on staffing and students.