TAFE SA's Chairman has been sacked and students remain in the dark about their education after a damning audit of 16 courses left 14 courses suspended for being substandard.

The latest government gazette states that Peter Vaughan has been removed from his position and Pauline Denley has been appointed as his replacement.

Mr Vaughan's departure comes after the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) assessment which meant students could no longer enrol in the affected courses.

About 800 plumbing, hairdressing, building, cookery, construction and aged care students also face potential reassessment.

TAFE SA Tonsley campus plumbing student Jedd Joerin said he was very disappointed by the result.

"It makes me a bit angry, considering I've put my hard work and effort into it, and it could be all to waste," he said.

The apprentice yesterday discovered his course was one of the 14 affected with students potentially having to undertake additional study before they achieve their certificates.

"I was a bit mind-boggled," he said.

"I thought they [TAFE SA] were pretty good, pretty official, but obviously not."

Another student, Fraser Sinkison, said he was shocked by the development.

"It's sad. You will have to spend more time in the classroom again," he said.

Para Hills High student James Paul has just graduated from a school construction course and was enrolled in a plumbing course at TAFE SA next year.

He said he did not know whether the course will be held in 2018 after hearing it could be cancelled.

"I want to do roof plumbing and if I can't go into TAFE I don't know what I'm going to do after that," Mr Paul said.

He said he will still try and get into the trade if the course is cancelled.

CEO replaced by Alex Reid

The Government has appointed a consultants' firm to review TAFE SA and, in particular, its internal quality assurance processes.

Its chief executive Robin Murt resigned on Monday and SA Education Minister Susan Close had called for Peter Vaughan to step down.

Department of State Development deputy chief executive Alex Reid has taken over as CEO.

Ms Close said there could be further problems with more courses.

She said the 16 courses audited were chosen at random, meaning problems at TAFE could be widespread.

"It's highly likely that more courses have problems … we have to act swiftly," she said.

Premier Jay Weatherill said SA's reputation for "quality technical and further education" was being put at risk and "assertive steps" were needed to recover it.

High school graduate James Paul, 17, was planning to enrol in a plumbing course next year. ( ABC News: Michael Coggan )

TAFE SA decisions 'the most serious'

ASQA undertakes more than 1,000 audits of registered training organisations each year and TAFE campuses are regulated in the same way as other organisations.

An ASQA spokesperson said more than 50 regulatory decisions against TAFE campuses had been made since July 2011.

"Certainly the decisions we've taken against TAFE SA are the most serious," the spokesperson said.

"TAFE SA is still able to seek a review or reconsideration of our decision."

Australian Education Union SA Branch Vice President Dash Taylor Johnson blamed State Government cuts to TAFE SA funding.

"In the past five years there has been $100 million of funding removed from the TAFE system," he said.

"We are very concerned about the lack of support for our TAFE as a vocational opportunity ... It's now clear this is the result."

He said TAFE SA had lost 700 staff since 2012.