Page 2526 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 7 August 1991
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TAFE Courses
DR KINLOCH: Mr Speaker, congratulations on the way you are running things. My question is addressed to Mr Wood, the Minister for Education and the Arts. I am so pleased to see that TAFE is also under this ministry. Can the Minister advise on these circumstances: If a TAFE student has properly enrolled for, and has completed, some elements of a TAFE program of studies, can that student be denied approval to complete the requirements for such a program? You can see what has happened: Someone may start a program, two or three units, and then the course is changed. In other words, are students protected against arbitrary closures or structural changes in programs once they have made a start on those programs?
Mr Kaine: The simple answer is no, Bill.
MR WOOD: No, that is not the answer. The institute's policy is that enrolled students will be able to complete their courses of study although, given circumstances that arise, not always in the minimum period. The institute reserves the right to transfer students to other courses of the same field and level. Problems arise from time to time; I am sure we have all heard of experiences of people who have been enrolled. But there is a firm policy at the institute, which I am sure will be maintained, that only the director has the authority to cancel a course of study in which students are currently enrolled. There is no scope for courses of study to be cancelled by any person other than the director. The policy that I am ensuring will be maintained will apply, with no cancellation of courses unbeknown to students at the school level.
More than that, because of problems that inevitably arise, the ACT Institute of TAFE does reserve the right to review or cancel specific classes if there are insufficient numbers or amalgamate and retimetable classes and withdraw elective options within a course of study. But I emphasise that there is a difference between cancelling a course and reordering the classes. That advice that I have given you, Dr Kinloch, is provided to intending students in the ACT TAFE guide, and it is generally known, or should be generally known.
Ms Follett: Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
MR JENSEN: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a personal explanation under standing order 46.
MR SPEAKER: Do you claim to have been misrepresented?
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