Time to listen, Minister Simmonds.

By Te Pou Ahurei Takirua - Ahumahi | Assistant National Secretary – Industrial, Daniel Benson-Guiu

Vocational education and training in Aotearoa has a funding problem. There just isn’t enough money to make sure every learner, employer, and community gets what they need.

But unfortunately, like the previous government, the National-led coalition has proposed a structural solution to a financial problem. That’s like saying your house is too cold, so the answer is to carve it up into separate unconnected rooms rather than buy a new heating system.

The TEU’s priorities have always been the same – accessible, quality vocational education and training for all that helps kiwis to be great citizens and gives them the skills and knowledge to get and keep great jobs so they, their families, and communities can thrive.

So, what’s the problem with what National have proposed?

First, the plan is about standing up independent polytechnics that are financially viable – but we know that very few of the current business divisions are financially viable in the current funding model. Why? Because the money doesn’t support the work they do – face-to-face, online, and work-based learning. The Ministry of Education and the Tertiary Education Commission have both demonstrated that the sector is financially broke, as does Te Pūkenga’s own Annual Report.

Second, the government plans to sell off assets to meet some of the shortfall in funding. You can only sell the family silver once; given that even the government advisers are saying the financial woes are long standing, this proposal is shortsighted and certainly not focused on the long-term needs of communities.

Third, if you read between the lines (which you have to given the lack of detail) the plan can only work if there is an upheaval of the entire way polytechnics deliver education to students. That change will be getting economies of scale through a ‘federation’ of polytechnics in which a small team of designers sets out the programmes, curriculum, and teaching material to be used by everyone; casualised, part-time, low paid workers can be employed to deliver; and, you get rid of costly teaching spaces in exchange for low-cost online delivery.

Will this deliver for learners, communities, and industries? For some, yes. For others, who learn best face-to-face, or industries that benefit from bespoke courses, or communities who use their vocational provider as a hub for community learning and activities, this model is going to be a regressive move. Te Pūkenga hasn’t delivered for our members, learners, communities, or industry, but the current proposal document is short on both details and viable options.

Now the big question is will the Minister listen if communities say they want their own campus and face-to-face provision? Will she fight for funding of that provision? If industries want a mix of pre-trade campus-based provision and on-job training, will she fund that?

Will she listen to her own officials who indicate the plans she has for a standalone polytechnic and federation model has major risks and is going impact negatively on Aotearoa, on learners, on staff, and on industry?

You can make sure she gets the message by writing to your local Member of Parliament, Mayor, or local government councilor, and by filling out our survey.

We can’t force her to listen, but we can make sure our voices are heard loud and clear.