Figures released to South West MLC Adele Farina by the Department of Education have highlighted a massive disparity in the fees being charged for students studying vocational education and training courses at different South West public high schools.
Analysis of local high schools shows many are offering VET certificate courses in a number of trades to students hoping to attain their WA Certificate of Education on their way to securing an apprenticeship and continued studies at a TAFE institute.
But each school charges differently depending on how the courses are offered – leaving some parents significantly out of pocket.
“A student doing a certificate II in plumbing at Australind Senior High School is charged $3,320 while the same course at Manea Senior College costs students $1,320 and at Dalyellup College students are charged only $320,” Ms Farina said.
“Students studying the same course at Eaton Community College and Newton Moore Senior High School are not charged at all.
“This inequity cannot be justified in the public school system.”
Department of Education statewide services executive director Lindsay Hale told the Mail the cost of courses may vary from school to school because not every qualification is available at every school from the same providers.
“Depending on the options available to a school, the same qualification could be provided in a number of ways,” Mr Hale said.
“Which of these options are available, and which of these options schools decide to provide, will vary depending on their local training organisation, the availability of external providers and the school’s assessment of the most appropriate programs to provide their students.”
Ms Farina said the policy requiring students to complete a VET course certificate to attain their WACE has merit as it keeps students in schools in a worthwhile way.
“But the system delivered by the Barnett government is presenting significant financial barriers for students which need to be rectified immediately,” she said.
“The South West must have skilled, trained workers if it is to continue to grow and this will not be achieved if the government continues to impose unfair and inequitable financial burdens on students based on their postcode.”