Kevin Peoples, Killing TAFE

 

- The author of this very well-written little book is an old friend of mine from many years ago. We were students together for a few years at a Catholic seminary in the Blue Mountains. 

- The first half of the book is personal and unfortunately a bit lightweight. It tracks Kev's many jobs after he left school, his family and marriage, his university days, and his subsequent role as a TAFE teacher. He taught humanities. 

- The second half of the book though is excellent. The role of the TAFE system was being thoroughly undermined by the global ideology of Neoliberalism which was sweeping across the Western world in the 1980's and 90's. Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Bill Clinton and Paul Keating were enthusiasts. 

- TAFE was virtually privatised. Corporate interests dominated the revised curriculum and private providers set up their own operations. (None existed in 1989 but five years later there were around 1000). The whole sector was gutted. What these naive entities didn't comprehend was that the TAFE system, an educational sector, was not merely the handmaiden of industry. 'We were catering for community needs. Giving people second chances. Enabling individuals to change jobs. Providing work skills for individuals capped with qualifications - Certificates, Associate Diplomas and Diplomas - not available in schools or universities'. 

- A wide range of Studies were offered to individuals with no direct link to employers, eg. Child Care, Printing, Librarianship, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Tourism and Hospitality, Computing, Landscaping, Photography, Fashion, English, Numeracy, etc. 

- However Keating, despite the radical changes he initiated, at least wanted TAFE to do well. He continued to fund it generously. The new PM John Howard put an end to that. 'Whipping TAFE was the new political correctness'. The system suffered dramatically. Professional staff were often replaced by casuals, tutors, and teacher 'assistants'. 

- What's missing from Kev's reflections in this book is where are we now, in 2024. Although he retired at the end of 1997 an Afterword would have been fascinating. His perspective would be enlightening.  



- (A note to the publisher BookPOD: Recommended Retail Price (RRP) means the GST-inclusive price. It is absolutely illegal under Australian Consumer Law to list a retail price which is not inclusive of the 10% GST markup. So the price of this book is $27.50, not $25.00).