by Amy Hume
VCE classes at Wallan Secondary College could face cuts to ensure its Vocational Certificate of Applied Learning program can get off the ground next year as planned.
The financial pressure is a result of the State Government’s recent $48 million cut to the co-ordination of VCAL.
The funding cuts are based on the theory that the program is already embedded in the system, but they make no exemption for schools, like WSC, that are introducing the program for the first time.
WSC Principal Wendy Caramarco said the school was committed to running the program next year but was concerned the funding gaps could limit the program’s potential and impact other areas of learning.
“We’re in the same boat as other schools but our situation is much worse,” Ms Caramarco said.
“We want to run a quality program and we need to monitor and maintain these programs as they should be.
“If we have to cut corners it’s not going to be that quality program that these people deserve.”
Shadow Minister for Education Rob Hulls visited the school on Wednesday, and was joined by Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell and Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green.
Mr Hulls said there is not a single school he has visited that won’t be affected by the funding cuts.
“You can’t cut $48 million out of the VCAL program and pretend there’s no impact,” he said.
WSC teachers Brian Howley and Kerryn Heazle have a shared VCAL co-ordination role and have been planning the program set-up.
They said the schools now running the program saw the need for the physical presence of a VCAL co-ordinator in the school and the community.
“We’re preparing to run a program based on what has been available for the past 10 years,” Mr Howley said.
“At no time was there any suggestion that we would be operating with less funding than those who started with the program in 2002.”
Ms Green said a co-ordinator was necessary for setting up connections in the community, especially when the program is just getting off the ground.
“It’s about getting those networks in place. They don’t just magically appear,” she said.
The need for a co-ordinator and the unavailability of funding means funds for other programs could be affected.
Assisting Principal Andrew Ellis said there would be long-term ramifications.
“We need a designated person to co-ordinate VCAL and that has to affect the other programs. A potential implication is the loss of some VCE classes,” he said.
“The classes it will affect are the top-end academic subjects, like specialist mathematics, because they generally don’t attract as many students and are less viable to run.
“The prospect of this happening is very likely. There is no fat in a government school budget.”
Member for Seymour Cindy McLeish said the education department “is aware of the issues surrounding running programs for the first time, as compared with schools that will run an established program.”
She argued that schools don’t yet know their budgets for the next year but should know by the end of the month.
“Once (their budget) becomes known there will be further discussions with the (Education) Department and the department is keen to work with WSC to help them deliver VCAL if that is what they want,” she said.
Ms McLiesh said she has raised the school’s concern with the department.
“I believe that an appropriate person from the department will work with the school.”
VCAL was advertised as part of the school curriculum for 2012 and the school has committed to keeping its promise to the community.
WSC is expecting about 20 per cent of its year 11/12 students to consider enrolling in VCAL next year.
Ms Heazle said VCAL was important for providing an alternative pathway for students.
“We have some students in year 11 that the VCE pathway is not suiting and they aren’t coping,” Ms Heazle said.
“VCAL is a very important program for these students and could be the right pathway for them.”
Mr Hulls said WSC is not alone in their fight to get the co-ordination funding restored.
It is one of 10 schools in the state that have indicated interest in running a VCAL program for the first time next year.
Mr Hulls encouraged the schools affected to lobby the Minister for Education.
