$310m for building knowledge

By KEVIN TAYLOR

The Government is supporting its push for a more skilled and knowledgeable country with increased funding for apprenticeships, industry training and the tertiary sector.

Public investment in science funding and teaching is also receiving a boost.

Tertiary Education Minister Steve Maharey and Associate Education Minister Parekura Horomia announced a four-year $277 million package to enable New Zealanders to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to boost innovation.

At the same time, Research, Science and Technology Minister Pete Hodgson said investment in basic science would rise by $33.5 million over four years.

In the tertiary education and industry training area, the $277 million is broken into $214.3 million for the tertiary sector, $41 million for more apprenticeships, $7.2 million to give work experience to high school students, and $14 million for industry training.

The number of people employed in the Modern Apprenticeships programme will more than double from 2500 to 6000 by December next year. The Government is also introducing a Maori trade training programme.

The $14 million industry training boost was announced on Wednesday. Prime Minister Helen Clark said support for industry training in the coming year would have risen by nearly 48 per cent since the Government took office.

She said there were now more people in industry training than ever. Last year, 95,000 people were involved, compared with 81,000 in 2000.

In science, an existing programme to boost the skills of science, maths and technology teachers will be extended using $5.1 million of extra funding over three years.



The Government will also boost two science funds - the Marsden Fund and the New Economy Research Fund.



Hodgson said increasing New Zealand's knowledge base by investing more in basic research was a high priority.

"Basic research advances human knowledge and acts as a catalyst for the innovation system."

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