Claims by the New South Wales Opposition and the Greens that 2016 is the last year to "rescue TAFE" are not helpful in the campaign to lure students back, the State Government says.

In November, Skills Minister John Barilaro announced a freeze on all TAFE fees this year as the Government attempts to stop falling enrolments.

Student enrolments in 2015 were about 83,000 fewer than in 2012, and about 3,000 TAFE staff have been cut over the same period.

It follows education funding cuts of $1.7 billion announced by former premier Barry O'Farrell.

Changes introduced under the Government's Smart and Skilled program also mean TAFE is competing with private providers for state funding and students.

"We have realigned the business model of TAFE but there has also been natural attrition with staff," said Mr Barilaro.

"When you see a decline in enrolments of course you're going to see a change in the workforce."

But Greens MP John Kaye said the Government's own policies had caused that decline in enrolments and some courses were 10 times the original price.

"The costs are now enormous. TAFE is no longer being seen by the Government as a public service but a commercial enterprise," he said.

"Everything they have done since coming to power points towards removing their obligations to a quality, public education system."

But the Minister rejected that, saying some courses had increased significantly because the Government decided to stop subsidising courses that were unlikely to lead a student to employment.

"There is a skills list [with] 750-plus qualifications on that. If a qualification or skill is required in the workforce and it's on the list then it's subsidised," Mr Barilaro said.

"We don't want what happened in Victoria. They subsidised a fitness training course and ended up with a surplus of 45,000 fitness trainers in the marketplace."

Opposition says TAFE needs more funding

The Opposition's David Harris said if the Government cared about TAFE, it would set aside part of the vocational education budget for the sector.

"TAFE funding at the moment is 100 per cent contestable," he said.

"That is forcing TAFE into a position where they have to cut teacher numbers and teacher hours so that's driving students away."

Greens MP John Kaye said it was not too late for the Government to reverse the changes at TAFE.

"We're standing at a precipice here. In Victoria their TAFE system has been reduced to about 20 per cent of the original student load," he said.

"In NSW it's not too late to change direction but this is really the last year to rescue TAFE."

But Mr Barilaro accused the Greens and Labor of playing politics at a vital time when TAFE is still accepting enrolments for the new year.

"The critics are saying the fee freeze won't lead to enrolment increases. That's premature. Judge me in a few months," Mr Barilaro said.

"The worst thing we can do right now is talk about courses being cut or teacher numbers being cut when we should be talking confidently about TAFE."

But Mr Barilaro would not say what his goal was for increased student enrolments this year.

"My goal is to see an increase, regardless of what that increase looks like," he said.