TAFE Queensland has justified moving a mechanics course from Alexandra Hills to Acacia Ridge saying there were not enough students enrolled in the Redlands-based Certificate II course.
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The six-month pre-vocational course, offered at the campus for more than 20 years, was axed at Alex Hills in July, after the state government restructured the tertiary education sector and bumped up fees.
Redland City Bulletin last week detailed how students were told on July 21, the day the course was due to start, it was no longer on offer at Alexandra Hills.
TAFE Queensland general manager Mary Campbell said only three people had enrolled in the course and 24 were on a list of interest, not enough to justify keeping the course.
She said the course had not been "axed" and that with sufficient student numbers next semester, the Certificate II in Automotive Servicing (Light Vehicle Pre-Apprenticeship) could return to Alexandra Hills.
She said the state's restructuring and changes in the way the government funded the tertiary industry meant reductions in subsidies for programs that would not lead to a job and were not considered "high priority".
"As a result of these changes, the prices of some courses offered by TAFE Queensland SkillsTech, including the Certificate II in Automotive Servicing, have increased," she said.
The last-minute axing of the Alex Hills course was brought to light when Thorneside mechanic and business owner Paul McMullin complained local businesses would suffer from lack of local students.
He said a local student was forced to turn down a job offer after TAFE cancelled the course and sent students to Acacia Ridge.
Mr McMullin also said skyrocketing fees for the course were deterring students from Redlands.
Fees rose from $1400 in January to $4800 a semester on July 1. Three years ago, the same course cost $400 and last year it was $700 a semester.
"As a result, the apprentice has decided to seek alternative employment because he would have to find an extra $30 a week to travel three hours a day on public transport to learn a trade," Mr McMullin said.
"Cuts to education are to the detriment of everyone in our community from our young people starting out in their careers to business owners trying to do the right thing by the community and employ locals."
Mr McMullin said his business was just one of at least five in the area, including Old Mac Toyota, Nissan and Mazda, which relied on apprentices from the Alex Hills pre-vocational TAFE course.
Before the course was cut, Mr McMullin said there were 10 apprenticeships up for grabs in Redlands over the next year, which were now likely to be filled by students from outside Redlands.
Queensland Teachers' Union representative for TAFE David Terauds said it was a shame the campus was being "wasted" and teaching staff slashed from 16 to six.
He said he believed it was a first step towards privatising the campus.
Capalaba MP Steve Davies said the TAFE had done everything in its power to advertise the course and it was stopped because it was undersubscribed.
