CIHE Faculty Quoted in the Media – Gavin Moodie and Leesa Wheelahan

A recent article in The Australian, which quotes both Gavin Moodie and Leesa Wheelahan in regards to vocational education and training (VET) outcomes:

Dr Moodie said the opposition’s promise of a comprehensive VET review – the first in two generations – was a welcome development. But he said an incoming government would be “well advised” to roll out the results in three stages.

The first would encompass pre-existing commitments and any urgent changes. The second would address review recommendations on financing, quality and governance, while the third would look at long-term changes to curriculum, pedagogy and fundamental quality and governance settings.

“Since this would be the first comprehensive public review of vocational education since (the Kangan report in) 1974, it (should) be given the time and scope to review all the developments since (then).”

Opposition VET spokeswoman Sharon Bird, who last week promised the review if Labor won the forthcoming election, said VET was struggling with increasing costs and declining quality. “While schools and universities have had full reviews into funding with the Gonski and Bradley reviews, the VET sector has been left behind.”

University of Toronto researcher Leesa Wheelahan said the review should develop a “mission” for TAFE. She said that when the Kangan committee had set up the national TAFE system, it had been unable to formulate an enduring definition of technical or further education.

The Australian Council for Private Education and Training said a detailed examination of VET was warranted. Chief Rod Camm said the review should look beyond quality concerns.