Te Pūkenga survey.

Three weeks ago, Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union opened a survey to gather members’ thoughts on the government’s proposal to disestablish Te Pūkenga. The responses we continue to receive will inform our submission on the proposal.

With just a few days left until the survey closes, we have received almost 300 responses which have given us a strong picture of your views.

In response to the question asking what are the core vocational education provisions that your region needs to thrive, one member said:

“We need an expansion of our current facilities to extend the range of pre-trade course options, our programs are thriving but there are gaps in offerings and space to deliver. We are a hub to the community, local industries, and the tertiary trained learners are essential future employees to our industries that are crying out for good staff.”

Another said:

“A broad range of courses to meet the need of industry within the region. There needs to be flexibility as needs change. While one year a course may have low numbers this does not mean it is no longer an area of vocational education that is required.”

When it came to describing the pros and cons of independent polytechnics, a lot of respondents say they value regional autonomy, close knit teams, and the ability to respond to regional needs. But one respondent recalled:

“Constant restructures between 2012 and 2017. I "survived" 3 of them. Devastating effects on the mental health of staff: both those that leave and those that stay. So, these units must be financially viable.”

Another points out that:

“Competition between providers was counter-productive, my organisation was doing fine but smaller enterprises in the regions struggled in that model and will again.”

The concept of financial viability was eloquently questioned by a number of respondents. One said:

“We are dependent largely on government funding, and so for the government to withhold sufficient funding and then say that our sector, or entities within our sector, is not sustainable is, frankly, perverse. The TEC is not financially sustainable, nor is Parliament. And yet they tell us we need to be. This is absurd. We need to be sufficiently funded to fully meet the needs of the community.”

Another respondent put it this way:

“Judging ITPs by their finically stability is the wrong way of looking at it, we should be judged on success, like numbers of ākonga who gain employment in their field, not just how little money you can spend educating people.”

The survey also asked for feedback about smaller polytechnics being federated with Open Polytechnic and what that could mean for students if regional provision moves online.

“Students are not able to choose the style of learning, students not able to have a face-to-face learning experience, develop all the employability skills that are required by the business community.”

The survey closes on Friday. Click here to have your say!