A diesel engineering apprentice welds a piece of farm machinery while on a course. Photo/File
A diesel engineering apprentice welds a piece of farm machinery while on a course. Photo/File
FROM PARLIAMENT
Over the past six weeks I have visited polytechnics in Whakatāne, New Plymouth, Hamilton, Auckland and Greymouth. As the opposition spokesperson for tertiary education, it is my responsibility to hold the Government to account for the proposed vocational reforms that will send 45,000 apprentices back into polytechnic-based classroom learning and that will amalgamate and centralise all polytechnics into one polytechnic based in Wellington.
Last week I read how one of Northland's biggest employers was echoing what other tradies around the country are saying, that is, if the proposed reforms go through on January 1 next year then they will not be rehiring apprentices.
The electricians have said the reforms, if implemented, will result in 60 per cent higher charges for electricians and I have already stated there will be 1000 jobs lost.
I believe the industry training sector is not broken and yet it is being disestablished to try and save the polytechnics.
Last week started badly on the vocational training front for the Minister of Education, with news an industry training organisation (co-led by a Northland identity) has served papers on the Minister in the High Court in Wellington around the reforms.
The polytechnic sector is different to industry training. Polytechnics do have some broken parts and do have challenges that were actually in our hands also.
Up to $100 million has been required to provide safety nets for a number of polytechnics over the past year, with many suffering from high costs and decreasing enrolments.
Nearly all polytechnics have told me they cannot possibly absorb 45,000 apprentices under these reforms and all of them are concerned they will lose local decision-making when one polytechnic is formed in Wellington.
I would note that a number of the South Island polytechnics in places such as Southland, Otago, Canterbury and Nelson are successful and are vital parts of the community.
In the past week or so there was bad news for this part of the minister's reforms, with the Auditor General reporting that there is no evidence that the reforms will improve financial sustainability.
Students in Bay of Plenty Polytechnic's automotive courses getting real-world experience by servicing vehicles. Photo/File
I do agree with the minister that the funding model needs to be looked at and I am enthusiastic to collaborate on this part of the reform, however, in a sector cash strapped for funding and needing bail outs it simply beggars belief that the minister underspent several hundred millions dollars in the last reporting cycle.
Even worse, it turns out that $170 million of that underspend has been taken out of the tertiary sector and placed back in the general fund. With struggling polytechs and a need for apprentices surely the money could and should have been spent in the tertiary sector.
My concern for Whangārei is that we will lose apprenticeships, jobs and maybe even our polytechnic. The best outcome we could have for now would be for the reforms to be delayed, allowing more stakeholder input and for the reforms to be placed on the campaign ticket.
If sending apprentices back to the classroom and amalgamating all polytechnics into one is such a good idea – put it to the voters in 2020.
