Meeting with Minister Simmonds.

Hau Taki Haere | Tertiary Update Vol 28, No 15

Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union met with Minister Penny Simmonds on Monday, for the first time since she was made Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills. The half-hour meeting focused on the next steps for polytechnics and the rest of vocational education.

Kaiwhakahaere | Organiser Drew Mayhem, who was in attendance, says “we wanted to know more detail about what the government is proposing.”

”They’re currently asking for feedback on creating a future based on a mixture of federated and standalone polytechnics, but the proposal is short on detail. For example, if the proposal proceeds, which of the polytechnics will stand alone and which will be part of a federation? What will being part of the federation mean? What will be needed for a federated polytech to become financially viable and stand alone?”

“The Minister said she couldn’t answer these questions as the work was still being done to understand the position of the polytechnics. And that we’d get the information around November, as they put together legislation to break up Te Pūkenga – and then in the first quarter of next year we could have a say through the parliamentary select committee process.”

“When members are being asked to give feedback by mid-September, it’s not good enough that the Minister delays release of information until November. We are being asked to respond to a half-baked proposal.”

“And if you read the impact statement written by the experts in the public service, the model the Minister is proposing isn’t financially viable at all.”

The Minister’s reasons for change appear to be anecdotal: “The Minister noted that she had recently visited a polytechnic classroom that only had eight learners according to her, “That’s just not financially viable.” So, the Minister’s vision is to take away from in-class provision towards an online or blended model that does not work for everybody.”

“Students won’t get the same learning as they do now. They’ll move from having campus-based learning with subject matter experts, to mainly online modules distant from advice and support. This will work for some learners, but not in all industries, communities, or for all learning styles.”

“The government has been clear Te Pūkenga is going, but we really need the Minister and Cabinet to make the right decision. Not one that is going to make it harder for people to access the training and education they need, nor one that is seeing the ‘right sizing’ of the sector (read cuts to courses, campuses, and jobs) at all costs.”

“The Minister should meet with TEU members directly and answer their questions so they can continue to help build a strong viable vocational education sector.”

Also in this update:

• Te Pūkenga survey
• Unis stop work this week
• Indigenous activism internationally
• Academic Freedom Conference – New dates!

Other Stories:

Employers voice concern about changes to Te Pūkenga – RNZ

Controversial Auckland Uni course shake-up sparks emergency staff, student meetings – NZ Herald

Polytechnics face losses under plan to dissolve Te Pūkenga – RNZ

Documentary lays bare history of the haka party incident – UoA