Teaching is what I'm passionate about; therefore, like most other passionate teachers, you tend to do the little extra things to help your students because the reward is often 10-fold.

In a Certificate III course quite recently, I had four of my best students inform me that they don't plan on continuing into the Certificate IV because of the new fees in 2010.

One student in particular already possesses a degree in commerce but can't work in that industry due to illness. That student wished to retrain with the outcome of working in a different industry and not being reliant on the pension he was awarded. It's quite simple really: if, as a training provider, we can't retain our best students then everything is in vain.

Congratulations Jacinta, you're achieving the opposite to the ethos and spirit of the training packages and what teaching professionals are passionate about. My students and I are keenly anticipating the election in November 2010. I have no doubt you will be out of a job.

May I recommend you apply your business mentality to your new job!!

— Posted by Darren Tolley, TAFE teacher