THE Border community should not underestimate the significance of the revelation this week that Wodonga TAFE was one of only two Victorian institutes to make a profit last year.
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Annual reports tabled in the Victorian Parliament yesterday showed the TAFE sector returned a combined deficit of $52.5 million, with the Goulburn Ovens or GOTAFE losing more than $10 million.
In comparison, Wodonga’s surplus was a modest $1.3 million, but it was a surplus.
Training Minister Steve Herbert noted the market share of Victoria’s TAFEs had “plummeted” to 25 per cent of the training market.
He accused the previous government of “ripping” out funding from TAFEs and laving the system in turmoil.
But he has said TAFEs, and particularly those in regional areas, would not be allowed to collapse.
The government has hired former Holmesglen boss Bruce Mackenzie to review the training sector’s funding, a move that is well overdue.
Wodonga, one of the state’s smallest TAFEs has managed to survive in a difficult climate, meaning there must be hope for the future viability of the sector.