'Business as usual' for Tai Poutini Polytechnic students after Crown manager put in charge

Tai Poutini Polytechnic would not have sufficient funds to meet its financial obligations without change, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce said yesterday. Photo / File

Tai Poutini Polytechnic says it will be business as usual for students next year after the Government announced yesterday that a Crown manager would be put in charge from tomorrow.

The Government cited a "significant" financial deficit and declining student numbers at the West Coast's tertiary institution.

Polytechnic council chairman Graeme McNally wrote to the Government in early November outlining concerns about the financial position and weaknesses in its educational delivery and processes as a result of declining student numbers.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic currently has 311 full-time equivalent students enrolled at the West Coast campuses, with 71 percent of its students being trained outside the region.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce said yesterday that without change the polytechnic would not have sufficient funds to meet its financial obligations.

Mr McNally said the Crown appointment of Murray Strong would not affect student studies or the programmes offered next year.

Staff would continue work as usual, he said.

Mr Strong's appointment would not directly impact on the roles and responsibilities of the temporary chief executive, Mr McNally said.

The polytechnic council was disappointed but understood that intervention was necessary.

"This appointment is an opportunity for the polytechnic to address a number of the concerns and issues that the council and management team have identified and sought to resolve over recent years," Mr McNally said.

He accepted work had to be done to boost enrolments in key programmes, improve financial performance, strengthen education quality systems and offer targeted training options.

Mr McNally said there had been no discussions with the Government on the polytechnic's place in the future of West Coast tertiary education.

However, tertiary education commentators said earlier this year that the Tai Poutini Polytechnic problems meant it was vulnerable to a potential amalgamation, such as that forced on Timaru-based former Aoraki Polytechnic, which was merged with the Christchurch-based CPIT.

- Greymouth Star