Posted to Monash Weekly (18/3/2013) on 27/3/2013 at 12:26 PM
Commented on "Holmesglen goes empty-handed"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1366877/holmesglen-goes-empty-handed/
The number of courses and competencies offered in many TAFE colleges, including Holmesglen, was too numerous to mention, and hence economy of scale was thrown out of the window. The quality and standard of some of trainers / teachers in some private and TAFE colleges were far from satisfactory. During my time as a trainer / teacher, I had colleagues who taught competencies (subjects) beyond their ability, and at times, they were only half a chapter better than the trainees / students.
Many students were no better as well. Some were forced to attend colleges so that they could receive assistance or benefit from Centrelink. Many redundant or retrenched from workforce hoped to be trained / retrained in areas to give them a better chance to re-enter the workforce found the courses were beyond their scope.
A fair number of overseas students attending colleges had poor English language skill. The quality of some assignment submissions was no better than that of a lower secondary school student.
For some subjects, students / trainees were given trial tests prior to the actual ones. The content of the trial was almost identical to the actual with minor changes to non-critical points such as name of company / person, and numerical data.
The TAFE system needs more than structural reform. It must not be used as a academic sausage machine. As a taxpayer I expect the system produces graduates of quality rather than in quantity.
Commented on "Holmesglen goes empty-handed"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1366877/holmesglen-goes-empty-handed/
The number of courses and competencies offered in many TAFE colleges, including Holmesglen, was too numerous to mention, and hence economy of scale was thrown out of the window. The quality and standard of some of trainers / teachers in some private and TAFE colleges were far from satisfactory. During my time as a trainer / teacher, I had colleagues who taught competencies (subjects) beyond their ability, and at times, they were only half a chapter better than the trainees / students.
Many students were no better as well. Some were forced to attend colleges so that they could receive assistance or benefit from Centrelink. Many redundant or retrenched from workforce hoped to be trained / retrained in areas to give them a better chance to re-enter the workforce found the courses were beyond their scope.
A fair number of overseas students attending colleges had poor English language skill. The quality of some assignment submissions was no better than that of a lower secondary school student.
For some subjects, students / trainees were given trial tests prior to the actual ones. The content of the trial was almost identical to the actual with minor changes to non-critical points such as name of company / person, and numerical data.
The TAFE system needs more than structural reform. It must not be used as a academic sausage machine. As a taxpayer I expect the system produces graduates of quality rather than in quantity.
