A large group of protesters outside Bega TAFE campus had a clear message they wanted people to hear.
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“Bega TAFE is not for sale,” they chanted.
The protest on Thursday was organised in response to what the protesters saw as an uncertain future for the current campus due to the construction of the new connected learning centre (CLC) at the site of the old Bega District Hospital, as well as a perceived lack of clear intent by the state government as to what would happen to the campus.
NSW Teachers Federation organiser for Bega TAFE Rob Long said the current campus was "too valuable an asset” to close, and at other sites where a CLC had been constructed – such as Glen Innes and Coonabarabran – it had been built on the existing campus.
“We’re not against a connected learning centre. But we think it should have been built on the college here,” he said at the Bega campus.
He said protesters wanted a “rock solid guarantee” from Member for Bega Andrew Constance and the NSW government the campus would not be sold in the future.
But on Thursday Mr Constance told the Bega District News there were no plans to close the existing buildings at the TAFE campus and the organisers behind the protest should “stop playing games”.
“If anything we are expanding and building new buildings,” he said.
“The community can see through Labor fibs and mischief-making by the unions.
“I’m proud to be delivering a new $7million building as the first stage for a new TAFE in Bega.”
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At the protest Labor candidate for Bega Leanne Atkinson said one problem was the site of the CLC was only one block away from the current campus, which was within walking distance from Bega High School.
“Why would you set up a new facility in a completely different location when you have this beautiful location here?" she said.
“There is no logic to it.”
Ms Atkinson said she did not have a problem with a CLC, but said it did not replace quality teaching.
“Technology should be a tool to enhance teaching,” she said.
“Not all learners learn online. They need face to face learning. They need these teachers."