$32m education boost

A NEW technical education centre (TEC) to be built in Berwick as part of a $214 million State Government package announcement this week has been welcomed by the council.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford expressed his delight at the announcement.
“The decision is a wonderful boost for both Casey’s young people and local business,” he said.
Premier Steve Bracks unveiled the new initiative on Tuesday, and said the multimillion-dollar investment would take place over the next four years and would boost the skills of Victoria’s workforce and promote economic growth.
Mr Bracks said $32 million had been allocated to build four new TECs at Berwick, Ballarat, Wangaratta and Heidelberg.
“These new senior secondary campuses will cater to up to 300 students interested in taking up a trade, and through links to local TAFE institutes will provide year 11 and 12 students with a range of vocational training programs,” he said.
“These new TECs will offer programs including VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning), pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships and traineeships with a special emphasis on school-aged students and help local industry address local skill shortages.”
Mr Bracks said access to vocational and technical training would be streamlined with the creation of 13 new ‘skills stores’ to be set up across Victoria at a cost of $23 million.
“Skills stores will provide Victorians with all the information they need about the range of education, training and employment options.”
Minister for Education and Training Lynne Kosky said the statement also allocated $48 million in capital equipment for Victoria’s network of 18 TAFE institutes, which cater to 350,000 students, including 49,900 apprentices and trainees, as well as numerous other initiatives.
Some of the other initiatives include:
– $28 million to guarantee funding so all Victorians up to the age of 20 could complete year 12 or an equivalent qualification;
– $33 million encouraging pre-apprenticeships in areas of skill shortage; and
– $11 million for older existing workers who did not complete year 12 to go back to study and gain a qualification.
A spokesperson for Ms Kosky said a suitable location in Berwick would be sought before the Government proceeded with the development of the new TEC.