Ulladulla and Nowra TAFE campuses will lose three classes due to the funding cuts, while a further 14 teachers are said to face the chopping block. 

The Adult Migrant Education Program (AEMP) and Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) courses will be outsourced to private trainers from July 1. 

Navitas, not currently operating in the Shoalhaven, has been awarded a federal contract to operate set courses. 

The company has sub-contracted the courses to MAX Solutions, which has partnered with Sureway to run the courses in Nowra and Ulladulla. 

This means several students will be forced to switch training providers half way through their course. 

NSW Teachers Federation’s Rob Long wanted to see existing students allowed to complete their studies with TAFE. 

“The immediate concern for our existing students is that they have continuity in their studies and teachers,” Mr Long told Fairfax Media. 

“We are calling on the federal government to keep existing students in those courses.

“We realise they are not going to reverse their decision, but we want them to allow existing students to complete the courses at TAFE.”

However, Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis said this would not be allowed and students would face “minimal disruption” to their learning. 

“New and existing providers are expected to transition clients between the providers in a smooth fashion,” she said. 

“All current students will be transferred to the new provider in our region.

“It is important to remember education providers do facilitate remote study options.”

Mr Long said TAFE Illawarra was one of two Australian institutes to lose contracts for the programs. 

“It is quite unusual that TAFE has lost the contract,” he said.

“In other places, like Sydney, it has gone the other way and TAFE has gained contracts.”

Up to 70 teaching positions across Illawarra TAFE campuses would be lost under the changes, Mr Long said. 

He said “about ten to 15 per cent” of those jobs would be from Nowra and Ulladulla TAFE campuses.

“Casual teachers will more than likely lose all of their work,” he said.

“Some teachers have said they would leave the TAFE system because there won’t be enough work.

“MAX will not employ teachers, they are going to employ trainers, and teachers have said they will not move providers to be a trainer.”

Mr Long was concerned the changes would have a flow-on effect to wider literacy and numeracy support for TAFE students, including apprentices.

Mrs Sudmalis said students in both AEMP and SEE programs would receive a “high standard of teaching” under the new provider. 

“The tender process was overseen by a Department of Education and Training panel, taking into account the capability to deliver the best quality services to people in Gilmore,” she said.

“People in the Kiama, Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla shires can be assured that they will continue to have access to AMEP and SEE programs with a high standard of teaching.”

Gilmore Labor candidate Fiona Phillips said she was concerned about the students’ quality of learning amid the changes.

“Why are we contracting out programs that are absolutely essential?” she asked.

“At the moment, the federal government has no rules around contestable funding for TAFE, which means it’s pretty much open slather for contracts to go out to the private sector.”

Mrs Phillips said the literacy and numeracy courses taught at TAFE were designed to improve students skills in preparation for further study or work. 

She said several courses have been axed to fit with a new “competitive environment”. 

“There are no pre-apprenticeship courses run at Nowra campus anymore, forcing many people to drive two hours plus to Wollongong TAFE. Each way – with no public transport,” she said. 

“This is disturbing in an area with the highest youth unemployment in NSW, third highest youth unemployment in Australia, and the lowest workforce participation rate in Australia.

“Many young people have simply just given up and that’s not good for anyone.”