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Disastrous Day For Agricultural EducationThe Bracks Government has done nothing to alleviate the fears of agricultural educators and farming communities with its announcement of new service providers today. By Philip Davis - 31st August 2005 - Back to News Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis said Melbourne University’s McMillan and Glenormiston campuses would be hardest hit by the Bracks Government’s decision to split programs between two providers.
Mr Davis said there was no guarantee that the agricultural courses would continue at the campuses – just that they would remain in the ‘region’ until at least 2006.
"While the announcement that harness racing, agriculture and horticulture programs will be retained in Gippsland and provided by the Education Centre Gippsland in partnership with the McMillan Gippsland Advisory Committee is positive, the fact that dairy education will be separated from agriculture and horticulture programs is disastrous.
"The Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE will take over the dairy programs but we have no idea where or for how long.
"While the Bracks Government has indicated that the dairy courses must be conducted in the region in 2006, there is no guarantee it will be at the McMillan campus and not relocated elsewhere in Gippsland.
"There is also the possibility that these providers may move the courses out of Gippsland after 2006."
Mr Davis said the Glenormiston community was shocked that Labor’s Education Minister Lynne Kosky had rejected a bid by the Glenormiston Education Trust to run the TAFE courses in 2006, in favour of two outside providers.
"The Glenormiston Education Trust put forward a very strong expression of interest to run these courses and keep them local. This was supported by industry groups, Melbourne University and the community," Mr Davis said.
"Unfortunately, Lynne Kosky took the easy way out.
"Just like the McMillan campus, Glenormiston will be divided by two service providers, with Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE taking over the dairy programs and the South West Institute of TAFE running the horse management and agriculture programs.
"The Bracks Government’s failure to retain a mass of agricultural education programs in each of the regions will see the fragmentation of these programs that are so important to farming communities."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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