Release: NSW schools save taxpayers billions by teaching students trades

Release: NSW schools save taxpayers billions by teaching students trades

The Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance, the nation’s largest grassroots advocacy group representing taxpayers, today commended NSW schools for teaching students that uni isn’t their only option and that they can instead go into various trades which will better suit their ambitions.

“The $10 million the NSW government is spending teaching kids about various trades is but a drop in the total $111.8 billion education budget. By teaching kids they can pursue their dreams outside of uni, these NSW schools reduce unnecessary demand for university. This takes pressure off of the taxpayers tasked with funding these superfluous degrees,” said ATA Policy Director, Emilie Dye.

“The government spends nearly twice as much money funding universities than it does on diplomas and vocational studies programs. By sending students to shorter more practical programs, the government saves billions and these students begin earning larger salaries sooner. Everyone wins.

“Both the demand for and spending on traditional higher education has gone up substantially in the last few years. However, the students graduating today are no different from the students that graduated in 2009. Parents and society today tell students they must go to uni to succeed, but that simply isn’t true.

“While some kids want to become doctors or economists, many others want to build things or to program computers. Parents and schools should encourage students to follow their dreams even if those dreams don’t line the pockets of Big Uni.

“The students who enter the job market sooner and spend less (both of their own money and taxpayer money), often end up better off than their well educated peers.”