Registered Training Organizations Are On the Rise

One of the biggest problems with traditional education lies in the fact that it’s delivered to people on a semi-mandatory basis (societal, parental and peer pressure). This means that those attending these educational organizations often lack intrinsic motivation, to a degree. Enlisting on an RTO (registered training organization) is something entirely different.

Seeing as how these courses are vocational, it’s safe to assume that those who enlist on them really need the vocational knowledge that these organizations provide. The fact that, at the moment, there are almost 5,000 such organizations across Australia, more than proves the point that this model is not only popular but essential to the Australian educational system. Here are several other things you should know about this.

1. What qualifies as RTO?

The first thing you need to understand is the very definition of the notion. In order to be a real RTO, you need to be recognized by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) or similar state authority. This, however, doesn’t mean that the certification earned this way isn’t recognized by other countries and educational organizations. This factor of international recognition is a huge plus that persuades a lot of people that enlisting is definitely worth their while. This is due to the fact that getting the ASQA approval, isn’t that easy and that you need officially qualified trainers and experienced teachers in order in order to get this status.

1. Privatization of education and training industry

Another thing you need to understand about RTOs is the fact that the VET (vocational education and training) sector currently enrols more students than there are currently in Australia’s universities. The government alternative to RTOs are the so-called TAFE (technical and further education) institutes, yet, they’re not nearly as popular or attended. When taken into consideration the fact that the number of RTOs, as well as the number of attendees, is on the rise, the direction in which this trend is moving is becoming quite obvious.

1. The growth of related industries

Another important thing you need to understand is the fact that the growth in the number and popularity of RTOs can’t happen on its own. Instead, it conditions the growth of other industries, as well. First of all, the number of teachers that is required is growing by quite the number, thus making education into a much more lucrative sector. Second, it leads to the rise in the number of platforms like Total VET Training Resources, which specialize in providing learning materials for RTOs. Finally, due to a high level of specialized education that gets distributed this way, the overall performance in a number of industries grows, as well.

1. Hazards and pitfalls

Of course, it’s outright irresponsible to focus on the positive side of a phenomenon without inquiring about potential downsides. You see, due to the fact that there’s a growing demand for RTO services, there are some organizations that are just looking to make some money, without investing too much effort into what they do. The easiest way to recognize these organizations is to check if they promise a 100 percent pass rate or even require the full tuition fee to be paid up-front. This, of course, doesn’t mean that they won’t try to charge you extra on a later date or include some additional fees. In other words, seeing as how the number of scams is growing, as well, the vetting process needs to become more stern.

In conclusion

Due to the fact that there’s a huge market for the type of services that RTOs provide, it’s safe to assume that their trend of growth isn’t likely to be interrupted anytime soon. They’re simply filling the niche that would, otherwise, either stay vacant or, at very least, be less cost-effective.