By Nicole Williams
The students rallied at Chisholm Dandenong on Friday 8 April to raise awareness about the issue.
In January the Baillieu Government implemented an election commitment to reduce the TAFE fees paid by students aged 15 to 24, after the previous government scrapped the scheme last year.
TAFE student Ali Hussain, 28, said the students were pleased when the new State Government reintroduced concessions for younger students, but this left mature-aged students with higher fees.
A TAFE concession fee for a student aged between 15 and 24 is just $100 and a student aged over 25 is charged a tuition fee of $2000.
“We wanted the government to reintroduce concessions for all students, but they have only reintroduced it for 24-years-old and under,” Ali said.
“What about the other ones, the students 25 years and above?”
The students have a petition with more than 600 signatures and are asking the Liberal State Government to consider the reintroduction of concession fees for all students.
The current fees also mean that students aged over 25 have to pay full fees if they want to continue studying, which could cost them up to $20,000.
Ali is studying community services in Dandenong and he would like to continue studying but the current fees will make it difficult.
“This decision is really discouraging for people like me who want to get more skills,” Ali said.
“This will result in a shortage in the skills industry.”
Fellow community services student Hayat Doughan, 55, agreed.
“If I want to be more skilled, I will have to do another diploma next year and I will have to pay $12,000,” she said.
“I will never be able to do it if I have to pay the full amount.”
State Member for South Eastern Metropolitan Region and Parliamentary Secretary for Education Inga Peulich said exemptions were available for people who were significantly disadvantaged in the labour market or undertaking training in a critical skills area.
“Furthermore, in 2011 the Baillieu Government will be undertaking a comprehensive review of fee structures with a view to ensuring that tuition fees do not pose a barrier to further education and training for those who need to broaden their skills to gain or maintain employment,” Ms Peulich said.
“This review will also include a review of the concession fee places program.”
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