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Nightmare over as autonomy back
Nightmare over as autonomy back

Otago Daily Times

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • Otago Daily Times

Nightmare over as autonomy back

Former Otago Polytechnic principal Ian Hall believes the decision to split up Te Pūkenga returns full autonomy to Otago. Dry July may have limited the celebrations at the Forth St head office of Otago Polytechnic. But celebration there should certainly be, with the overdue announcement by Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds of the restoration of full autonomy to our local polytechnic. The ill-fated Te Pūkenga nightmare is finally, and almost inevitably, coming to an end that few will lament. A bright new future for our polytechnic surely lies ahead once strong local governance and clear-headed leadership is again in place. I welcome the minister's announcement. It is something of a personal journey for me as it is 40 years since I landed my dream job as the polytechnic's third principal, following the pioneering work of the earlier principals, Ian Scollay and Ted Aitcheson. On the day that I shifted into my office, the bulldozers started work on the polytechnic's new Forth St campus. What an exciting time it was as the new buildings were opened to replace the outdated facilities in the old King Edward Technical College campus. Mind you, there were frustrations, as all day-to-decisions were stifled by the overbearing control of the Department of Education. Funding was based on student hours, laboriously recorded in daily class registers, and every significant staffing and curriculum decision needed referral to the department or other central agencies. Innovation and creativity was stifled. All decisions on the new buildings had to be signed off in Wellington and every piece of equipment was centrally funded. Dramatic change came about after the 1989 Learning for Life reforms of Education Minister David Lange and his sidekick, Phil Goff. The universities feared Armageddon as the University grants committee was abolished, with its cosy arrangement of five-early funding, and the pesky upstart polytechnics were granted degree-awarding powers. In Dunedin, always a centre of educational excellence, co-operation and mutual respect become the order of the day. A joint tertiary liaison committee was established under the wise stewardship of Dame Dorothy Fraser. Robin Irvine as vice-chancellor at Otago and Lester Taylor as principal at the Dunedin Teachers College committed to a collegial way of working to the benefit of all. The first polytechnic degree, in physiotherapy, was initially a joint venture between the polytechnic and the university, though it was not long before the polytechnic established its own degrees, initially in the health sciences. Liberated from stultifying central control, the building programme at Forth St continued apace and the regional campuses in Oamaru and Cromwell expanded rapidly. New courses were created and student access was broadened through the creative use of technology. The long-standing links to mana whenua at the Ōtākou marae were strengthened and the late Tasi Lemalu did wonderful work in encouraging links with Pasifika communities. International students were recruited in increasing numbers. Like all businesses, the polytechnic subsequently went through some challenging times. In time, the inspired leadership of Phil Ker as chief executive, and the strong work of dedicated staff, saw the polytechnic recognised as a leader in diverse areas, supported by a sound financial position and high levels of student satisfaction. It is sad that so much good work has been compromised in recent times, and that so many good staff have been lost. Te Pūkenga could have been a useful adjunct if its powers had been circumscribed, but there is little to be gained now from speculating about what could have been done better. What is surely important is to focus clearly on the new opportunities that lie ahead. It is worth remembering that Otago Polytechnic is the only institution to have retained its original name throughout all of the changes of recent times. Others have chosen at various times to be known as community colleges or institutes of technology but only Otago has held fast to its founding name. It has also, I would argue, held true to the mission of vocational education, and graduates who will contribute to the economic and social development of our region and beyond. This is a time for our community to once again add its support to our local polytechnic as it capitalises on the opportunities created by the decisions now made. I have no doubt that, given local support, Otago Polytechnic can once again add to Dunedin's hard-earned reputation as a centre of educational excellence and innovation. ■ Dr Ian Hall was principal of Otago Polytechnic from 1985 to 1992. He now lives in Albert Town and was recently chairman of the board at Mount Aspiring College.

Local decisions from polytechnics back in local hands
Local decisions from polytechnics back in local hands

Otago Daily Times

time4 days ago

  • Business
  • Otago Daily Times

Local decisions from polytechnics back in local hands

Regional governance of polytechnics will grow the economy, Minister for Vocational Education Penny Simmonds writes. Vocational education is one of the most important tools we have to grow our economy, support local jobs and give New Zealanders practical pathways into meaningful work. That is why this government is making big, necessary changes to rebuild a system that works — for learners, for employers and for the future of New Zealand. From January 1, 2026, regionally governed polytechnics will be re-established, subject to legislation currently before Parliament. This is a major step forward in restoring local decision-making and ensuring our vocational training system is responsive, flexible and financially sustainable. Under the overly centralised model of Te Pūkenga, it has been difficult for polytechnics to meet the real needs of their communities. Local employers, industries and learners have told us clearly: one-size-fits-all doesn't work. It is time for change. Returning decision-making to the regions is where those closest to local labour markets understand what skills are needed and how best to deliver them. Regional polytechnics will once again be able to tailor training to the priorities of their communities — and they will do so in partnership with employers and industry leaders. That is great news for Otago, where Otago Polytechnic helps power the regional economy by equipping people with the skills employers need. Restoring local governance means Otago Polytechnic can now respond more directly to economic demand and growth opportunities. The government is phasing in these changes carefully to ensure stability and success. While some polytechnics will be ready to transition to regional governance from January 1, others will stay within Te Pūkenga for now as they work towards financial and operational viability. Decisions on their future will be made in the first half of next year. These reforms are part of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Bill, which is currently before the education and workforce select committee. We expect the Bill to pass in October, following a thorough public consultation process. I want to thank all those who took the time to make submissions. Your feedback has shaped a better, stronger model that reflects the needs and ambitions of local communities. Te Pūkenga will continue to operate as a transitional entity for up to a year, to manage unallocated programmes and support a smooth handover. The legislation also provides tools for responsible management, including provisions for mergers or closures where a polytechnic cannot return to financial viability. Vocational education serves more than 250,000 learners every year. That's a quarter of a million people building their futures, their industries and their communities. Our job is to make sure they are getting the right skills, in the right place, at the right time. This is about more than education. It is about regional jobs, stronger local economies and ensuring industries have access to the skilled workforce they need to grow. Regional polytechnics don't just train people — they employ thousands across the country and they help regions thrive. We are rebuilding a vocational education system that delivers on its promise — equipping people with the skills they need, supporting local businesses and backing regional success. That's the kind of system New Zealand deserves. And that's exactly what we are building. • Penny Simmonds, the National MP for Invercargill and Minister for Vocational Education, is a former chief executive of SIT.

Minister defends Te Pūkenga breakup, saying rural education will not suffer
Minister defends Te Pūkenga breakup, saying rural education will not suffer

RNZ News

time5 days ago

  • Business
  • RNZ News

Minister defends Te Pūkenga breakup, saying rural education will not suffer

Penny Simmonds. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds is confident her approach to polytechnics will not impact training in the regions, pushing back on criticism from the union. Simmonds on Monday unveiled the polytechnics that would emerge from breaking up Te Pūkenga, the mega-institute set up under Labour with the aim of making the sector more cost-effective. That merger in 2020 combined 16 polytechnics and nine industry training organisations, with most retaining their branding and continuing to operate but using Te Pūkenga as a "head office". Simmonds' proposed approach makes nine of those polytechnics independent once more, beginning operations from 1 January. Three of them will become a "federation", with the Open Polytechnic leading and providing services to Otago Polytechnic and the Universal College of Learning (UCOL). A further five polytechnics - NorthTec in Northland, Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT), Whitireia and WelTec in Wellington, and Tai Poutini Polytechnic on the West Coast - would be required to show a path to financial sustainability or face either closure or mergers. Simmonds signalled on Monday they would all likely be included in the federation. The former Industry Training Organisations would be replaced with Industry Skills Boards. Tertiary Education Union national secretary Sandra Grey is adamant the approach will be a disaster for regional education, saying the sector's become a political football. She told Morning Report it was important for polytechnics to be financially viable, but the funding model had not worked and needed to change. The $16.6m surplus Te Pūkenga reported last month was only possible because of drastic cuts and there was more to come, she said. "We've seen hundreds of jobs cut, dozens of dozens and dozens of courses go just to ensure they could reach this day... five polytechnics still have very uncertain futures, and we've got hundreds of job cuts coming just to meet the demands of the minister." "The only courses are [that] surviving are those that can get lots and lots and lots of students... I was at the Western Institute of Technology in Taranaki yesterday and one of the courses going is the course in agriculture - given that community is full of dairy farms, you cannot tell me they don't want agriculture courses." That agriculture course needed to be small because the students were working with heavy machinery like chainsaws and tractors, she said. "You can't have hundreds of students in a classroom when that's the activity you're doing, and that's what the minister's got to look at: a fit-for-purpose model that allows courses to run to meet community needs." Simmonds later acknowledged courses like that would need to be smaller, but said $20 million over two years had been set aside to support polytechnics to run them. "They have to have smaller classes for health and safety, and so that's what that additional funding is: to support them to be able to continue with those smaller classes that aren't viable but are really strategically important," she said. "It does give recognition to those areas where we really need to have training, but it can't be viable under the current funding system." She said the funding was specifically for regions like the Far North and East Coast that had a high need for such courses. She was confident her model would not impact rural training. "No, it won't. Because by putting the Federation in place, the regions are going to have access to online delivery through the Open Polytechnic and are going to have a wider range of programs available to be able to deliver blended delivery to smaller cohorts of classes." Otago Polytechnic also criticised the federation model , saying it would risk undermining its achievement rates, teaching quality and independence. Simmonds backed the federation as a solution to that rural-urban divide. "Putting the Federation in place, the regions are going to have access to online delivery through the Open Polytechnic and are going to have a wider range of programs available to be able to deliver blended delivery to smaller cohorts of classes. "Otago, for example, were running courses with quite small numbers in Central Otago. This gives them an opportunity to run those courses with blended delivery using the open polytechnics, online sources, resources. "The reality is, you can't run a course with five or six people in it on campus, fully sourced, fully staffed. But if you can have access to online learning as well, you can have that blended delivery online and on campus with smaller cohorts." She said Otago had "a little bit of work to do to get to a surplus", and the government could look at taking them out of the federation once that was achieved. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Tertiary Education Union says sector's become a political football, slams Te Pūkenga disestablishment
Tertiary Education Union says sector's become a political football, slams Te Pūkenga disestablishment

RNZ News

time5 days ago

  • Business
  • RNZ News

Tertiary Education Union says sector's become a political football, slams Te Pūkenga disestablishment

Otago Polytechnic will be absorbed into the Open Polytechnic, a move the former is "deeply disappointed" by. Photo: Google Street View The Tertiary Education Union is calling the government's disestablishment of Te Pūkenga a "disaster for regional New Zealand". Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds joined Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Monday to announce 10 polytechnics were being re-established. The Southern Institute of Technology she was chief executive of for 23 years was one of them - as was Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, after Nelson mayor Nick Smith appealed for the government to keep it independent . He was delighted, saying the govenrment's announcement is "the best news for Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough". "We are one of New Zealand's most geographically isolated regions, meaning that for many students who cannot relocate for financial or family reasons, NMIT is the only opportunity for them to upskill and gain a tertiary education," he said in a written statement. "There is now a big job ahead to rebuild NMIT. We look forward to the passage of the legislation and the appointment of a new polytechnic council. Key steps will be re-establishing links with local industry and redeveloping NMIT's international brand and market." Others were not so lucky. The Open Polytechnic will absorb Otago Polytechnic and UCOL, becoming a "federation" that offers online resources, an academic board and other services to those polytechs struggling with money. Otago Polytechnic executive director Megan Pōtiki said it was "deeply disappointed" to be included in the federation model. "Otago Polytechnic currently boasts one of the highest learner completion rates in the polytechnic sector, and we are concerned that the federation model would dilute this offering and impact our organisation's proud reputation and future success. The federation model risks undermining our learner success rates and the quality of teaching ... and ultimately risks undermining our independence and future viability as a regional institution." Minister Simmonds said polytechs in four other regions - Northland, Taranaki, Wellington, and the West Coast - were facing "unique challenges" and needed to show a path to financial viability within a year - or face being merged, or closed. Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Tertiary Education Union national secretary Sandra Grey told RNZ the sector had been suffering for 20 years and had become a political football. She said the minister's announcement was just a return to a model that was failing. "This government has just exacerbated it ... leaving four out in the cold and saying 'you'll just have to do something radically different, like just do online learning then you'll be financially viable' - that's a pretty cruel thing to do to communities. "That doesn't work so well when what you're teaching is cookery, or carpentry. They're not easy to teach online." She said most of the four facing an uncertain future were in rural areas which did not have universities and depended on polytechnics to become a hub of learning and industry. The government's plan, she said, would only deepen the divide between rural and urban learning. The former Industry Training Organisations would be replaced with Industry Skills Boards, which would set standards for industry training, develop qualifications, and endorse the programmes that would lead to them. The minister said they would be supported with Quality Assurance to ensure consistency - saying industries would now have a bigger say. Grey, however, said the plan was problematic because it would require students to go to a temporary holding place for two years - and the government had halved the funding for it. "This government keeps claiming it's giving communities and industry a big say in their future and yet it's making all the decisions for them, taking away all the money from them. "They're not thinking about whether it's genuinely going to serve industry or genuinely serve community, I think they've been warned this is not going to work for anyone, they're just going to go ahead because they made a promise. They could renege on that promise, we'd be quite happy if they turned around. "What we've got to appreciate is these polytechnics are built up over five decades, two generations have put energy, time, taxpayer money into building their polytechnics. These belong to New Zealanders, these polytechnics - and this government is just running roughshod over communities and taking decisions for them and making it impossible to have good training in small communities. "The long-term cost of people missing out on education is poorer health outcomes for people - so more money spent on the health system - poor outcomes socially because people don't get jobs, and lost tax revenue because when people don't train they don't get jobs and they don't contribute to the tax take. "We all lose out when communities lose out and when students don't have courses, this is a disaster if we don't turn it around." Labour's leader Chris Hipkins was the education minister who launched Te Pūkenga, and acknowledged the merger faced difficulties but said the government was turning the system upside down. "Te Pūkenga took too long to get off the ground in my view, but they turned a surplus last year. I think to turn the whole system upside down all over again right at a time when we need to be increasing the number of people we're training is a bit crazy." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Fewer Jobs, Opportunities In Regions Under National
Fewer Jobs, Opportunities In Regions Under National

Scoop

time6 days ago

  • Business
  • Scoop

Fewer Jobs, Opportunities In Regions Under National

The Government's changes to training in our regions will see jobs lost and fewer training opportunities. 'The whole point of Te Pukenga was to make the polytechnic sector more financially viable and ensure more training opportunities and employment in our regions,' Labour tertiary education spokesperson Shanan Halbert said. 'The changes announced today will only return the polytechnic sector to a model that was never financially viable – and the result will be major job losses in local areas. 'Toi Ohomai's Tokoroa campus could close, which is huge for a town that has also just lost its mill. WIT had proposed more job cuts as of Friday to business and hospitality. NorthTec, EIT and Ucol have been forced to propose further cuts as a result of the Government's proposals already. 'This Government could have simply addressed some of the issues Te Pukenga had, without disestablishing it, and avoided all the expense and uncertainly this has had on staff and students. 'The Minister is refusing to say how much this will cost and is ignoring advice on the risks of her proposal to the financial viability of polytechnics. Penny Simmonds couldn't even guarantee when asked this afternoon if they would all still be operational in two years' time. 'This is a sector that supports training for the kinds of jobs our regions need to fill skill gaps and boost local businesses and the economy. This Government is taking our regions backwards,' Shanan Halbert said.

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