The South Australian government has cut almost all funding for print training courses in a move training providers say will dramatically cut student numbers.

Print Training Australia principal consultant Andrew Reynolds says the Skills for All program used to cover about half of course costs and many employers will now not be able to afford it.

He says printing was cut from program with only six days’ notice, forcing a scramble that only secured half the expected enrolments for next semester.

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The government says subsidies for about 200 courses were scrapped because of low job prospects and completion rates and the money shifted to courses that offer graduates better employment prospects.

Tafe SA, the other major provider of print training in the state, says students will continue to be serviced through current delivery program ‘and will be sufficient to meet industry needs’.

“Recent extensive consultation with industry about qualifications suggests that there is no anticipated reduction to current facilities or training provision for printing at Tafe SA,” it says.

More to come.

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