Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union is
appalled by today’s announcement by the National-led
government that will cripple polytechnics in favour of
for-profit private providers making money from Aotearoa’s
apprentices, trainees and employers.
Vocational
Education Minister Penny Simonds has
said “the Government is making changes to work-based
learning so that industries have more influence over how
they train apprentices and trainees.”
But Te Pou
Ahurei | National Secretary Sandra Grey says, “as we have
repeatedly warned, the government is creating a privatised,
fragmented system that will further destabilise public
tertiary education.”
“The
minister’s plan encourages industry to set up Private
Training Establishments to compete for students. Nobody has
been calling for private providers. This is an ideological
move from an extreme
government.”
“The existing system
already includes a strong industry voice. We are unsure what
new edge this massive upheaval will provide for
anyone.”
“Te Pūkenga divisions are going to be
trusted to take new apprentices and trainees but the ones
they currently care for and teach are going to be ripped
away from them in a messy transition. Current apprentices
and trainees will be uprooted midway through their learning
journey. This isn’t good for them or the employers they
work for.”
“At a time when resources are extremely
limited, we should be focussed on collaboration not
duplicating and fragmenting a desperately needed sector
delivering the work skills Aotearoa
needs.”
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