Vocational education and training works for us all daily.

Our hospitals and early childhood centres are staffed by people who studied in polytechnics. If we are lucky enough to live and work in warm, dry buildings we are likely to be benefiting from what tradies learnt in polytechnic workshops. And if we enjoyed a great cup of coffee and pastry this morning then we can be thankful for all the bakers and chefs who chose to use their skills training the next generation to work in restaurants and cafes.

The Government is undertaking a major reform of vocational education which will see all teaching and learning – whether on campuses or on job – organised and governed within a single organisation.

However, the opportunity for for-profit companies to come in and teach vocational courses – to make money out of people training to be nurses, plumbers, mechanics, and chefs – is still there

We’d like your help to push back against any move by profiteers to take provision away from the system we all own and benefit from – our public providers. Simply sign up to our petition to the Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins.