7 hours ago
WelTec and Whitireia students and staff in limbo over proposed closure
A carpentry course at WelTec.
Photo:
RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
WelTec and Whitireia students and staff say the polytechnic is leaving them in limbo as it consults over plans to close its inner-city Wellington campus and down-size programmes.
Last month the polytech outlined a proposal to staff detailing
cuts to nearly 60 positions and over a dozen programmes
, including diplomas in drama, performing arts and dance as well as certificates in mechanical engineering, hospitality and music.
The proposal said the nature of specialist space and equipment required to deliver the courses - against a dwindling number of students - made them "no longer tenable".
It said the inner city Te Kāhui Auaha campus
could be shut down by the end of the year
.
The polytechnic said it had assured students that if cuts went ahead they would still be able to complete their qualification with the polytech.
But students like Charlie Cave-Smith, who left high school early and moved to Wellington to study musical theatre, is not convinced.
The 17-year-old said he was now facing the prospect that the qualification he was working towards might no longer exist.
"We're being thrown around with all of these decisions where I'm just going to be left to fend for myself with no certificate, diploma, degree or anything and I have to figure out another way to achieve the goals and dreams that I have. So it's genuinely quite scary," Cave-Smith said.
Charlie's mum, Libby Cave, said her family had spent close to $25,000 on Charlie's course fees for his first year and housing in a Wellington hall of residence.
"Has this whole year just been a waste? We don't know at this stage - if it does close - is this year transferable to other education providers or will this just be basically scrapped and he's got to start again?" Cave said.
Late last month third-year student Aroha Morrison attended a packed meeting between members of the student body and the polytech's director of teaching and learning, Dr Leanne Ivil.
She said the director's inability to provide any details of how students are likely to be affected by the changes - on the grounds that they were currently under consultation with staff - left many with tears in their eyes.
"The question was asked 'Can you and will you do everything within your power to ensure that these courses will not get cut?' and she couldn't answer. She could not say 'yes', she could not say 'no'. It felt a bit like a gut punch," Morrison said.
Students whose courses don't finish in 2025 have been assured they will still be able to complete their studies.
Photo:
RNZ / Dom Thomas
RNZ approached WelTec and Whitireia requesting their response to a variety of concerns expressed by students and staff.
In a written statement, Dr Ivil said responses would be determined by the outcome of the current consultation process.
Ivil said the Polytech's leadership team genuinely wanted to hear feedback from staff before decisions were made.
She said students who would not complete their studies in 2025 had been assured they would still be able to complete their studies with the polytech.
"Our review process is to ensure we operate as a sustainable entity. This includes reviewing our programmes, our property and our people.
"We wish to ensure [sic] our learners that our key priority through change and transition is to continue to deliver quality vocational education and training. We will continue to deliver this throughout any further change and transition," Ivil said.
But a staff member in the school's mechanical engineering department - who did not want to be named - said proposed cuts to crucial staff left him in little doubt the polytech intended to fully shut down the programme.
He said - if that went ahead - the educational provider would be walking away from millions of dollars of specialist equipment.
"There's four tutors to go and our technician. He's the man that basically looks after everything - all of our equipment in the workshop - so whether the consultation is worth anything I'm not really sure. A lot of this stuff feels like the ball's already rolling," he said.
Consultation on the changes will close on 23 June with a final decision due in July.
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