Teachers and students will stage a protest rally at Newcastle TAFE this week over the decision to move engineering apprentices to online learning.

They’re expected to congregate at the Maitland Road entrance of the Tighes Hill premises from 12.30pm on Wednesday 27 October.

The NSW Teachers Federation is appalled at a decision by TAFE management to move teaching and learning for Stage 1 Engineering Apprentices completely online for the first eight weeks of their course.

This will mean that all Certificate III students in Welding and Metal Fabrication, and Fitting and Machining, from the Central Coast to the Queensland border will spend the vital early stages of their TAFE training in a “virtual” learning environment with upwards of 70 other students.

“No matter how TAFE management try to spin it, this change to course delivery is profoundly and fundamentally flawed and is driven solely for budgetary reasons,” Federation TAFE organiser Annette Bennett said.

“This is yet another example of the failure of the contestable funding model; federal policy that has seen billions stripped from vocational education over the past decade and 140,000 fewer apprentices in training.”

TAFE NSW, as a world-class and respected educational institution, has always differentiated itself from other training organisations in its focus on the teaching of “hands-on” practical skills and the educationally effective integration of theory and practical learning in a simulated workplace environment.

“Apart from the ongoing access and equity issues associated with online delivery, forcing students online deprives them of the social aspects of learning in face-to-face environment,” Ms Bennett said.

“This cost-cutting exercise will hurt students.

“If we’ve learnt anything from the COVID-enforced move to online delivery it is that it’s a far from effective model for learning.

“Students have always enjoyed choices and opportunities to complete courses remotely via the TAFE Open Training and Education Network (OTEN).

“And, more recently, online through TAFE Digital, although even this mode often requires some attendance face-to-face at a TAFE college.”

Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.