TAFE cuts discriminate against women: report

The Victorian TAFE Association says analysis of the Government's $290 million vocational funding cuts shows they will discriminate against women.

The association has examined 20 courses that are badly affected by the cuts and have a high proportion of either female or male enrolments.

It found female-dominated courses, including children's services and hospitality, are facing funding cuts up to five times greater than courses geared towards men like bricklaying and agriculture.

The association's executive director David Williams says the cuts will disadvantage women.

"We're arguing that up to 65,000 women, based upon 2011 enrolments, would be disadvantaged either by the courses not running or them being hit with very substantial fee increases," he said.

"One of our large institutes has looked at 30 female courses and found that on average the increase will be 66 per cent next year, with an average dollar increase of $800.

"That is brought about by the subsidy for the course that the Government provides being dropped from around $7 an hour, on average, to around about $1.50."

Mr Williams says the Government's funding model is flawed.

"These courses at the lowest funding rate are funded too lowly. They need to be lifted in some way, so there needs to be a redesigning of the system so that women are not adversely disadvantaged when compared to men."

Premier Ted Baillieu says the results are skewed because the association picked the courses for its analysis.

"The TAFE Association has been entirely selective and has misrepresented the case," he said.

The Government says it is spending an extra $1 billion on apprenticeships and other courses to deal with skills shortages.

Source: ABC News, 26 September 2012