Low graduation numbers highlight failure Abbott govt education privatisation plan

Reports that very few students enrolled in private colleges graduate with qualifications reveals the extent of the negative impact for-profit companies are having on education standards, Greens tertiary, technical and further education spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said.

"Assistant Minister for education and training Senator Simon Birmingham is crying crocodile tears over a problem the Abbott government created when they brought in their privatisation agenda for vocational education and training course," Senator Rhiannon said.

"The education prospects of individual students and general education standards across Australia are being damaged because of the government's market place obsession.

"Only one in ten students at one of the major companies, Careers Australia, gained a diploma within two years.

"This downturn in education standards cannot be fixed by regulations.

"This is a failed government policy that now has a very human face.

"Opening the door for companies to access billions of dollars earmarked for education is a disaster. The job of these companies is to make profits and that means the needs of students and education standards suffer.

"On the recent Greens Save TAFE tour around NSW many students explained to us that they came to TAFE after bad experiences with private providers.

"The poor quality of private courses would be contributing to low graduation levels," Senator Rhiannon said.