- acknowledge that for some disadvantaged young people, fees for TAFE courses are already a barrier which a loan scheme is unlikely to overcome;
- monitor the impact of the TAFE fee increases;
- ensure support services and career counselling for TAFE students are well resourced to promote course completion and appropriate pathways.
To promote university enrolment of low SES students:
- review criteria for selection to offset disadvantage;
- promote flexible pathways, for example for TAFE students;
- ensure university is affordable.
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In conclusion, the challenges for a clever country - and we believe a clever country is a compassionate country - include the need to “invest” in education and training resources to: provide appropriate learning opportunities for all young people, including those with low academic achievement and learning difficulties; ensure affordable schooling and further training that does not exclude those on low incomes; and provide adequate income support for young people from low-income families to allow full participation in education and training.
It is important for Australia to value vocational pathways, to acknowledge the external barriers to full participation in learning that young people face and to promote inclusion rather than exclusion in learning opportunities.
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