T R A I N I N G
Hundreds of New Zealand businesses
agree – the Government’s plan to reform
vocational education is short-sighted and
likely to exacerbate the skills shortage.
It’s a message that Industry Training Organisation
(ITO) Competenz has heard loud and clear from
employers in the 36 industries it works with
providing apprenticeships and training.
The reform involves merging all 16 polytechs into
the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology,
an organisation that will be responsible for
delivering all on-job and off-job training. Industryowned
ITOs like Competenz would no longer
exist, they would no longer arrange training or
support and assess apprentices and trainees in
the workplace.
The proposal was announced in February
and ITOs, polytechs, businesses and other
stakeholders have until just March 27 to submit
their feedback.
Competenz works with 3,500 New Zealand
businesses and has received direct feedback
from more than 1,000 people so far through an
online survey, industry workshops and individual
meetings.
Ceo Fiona Kingsford says there are common
concerns across all sectors.
“The majority of employers we’ve spoken to feel
that the current model for apprenticeships and
industry training is working well, so why do we
need to fix something that isn’t broken?
“Not one of the industries we represent were
consulted before this plan came out, and these
industries are worried that disrupting the system
is a backwards step that could result in further
gaps, at a time when skilled staff are needed
most. Industry is at the forefront of digitisation,
mechanisation and robotisation, and ITOs
can react quickly to changes and advances in
technology. This reform risks slowing down the
speed of response to their needs,” says Mrs
Kingsford.
Many of the industries Competenz works with
are niche and highly specialised including fire
protection, print and butchery.
“These industries don’t currently use a
polytechnic at all. Where do these essential trades
fit the government’s new model?” questions Mrs
Kingsford.
Scott Lawson, ceo of the Fire Protection
Association of NZ, says the industry was
blindsided by the announcement.
“Like many sub-trades, we struggle to attract
sufficient levels of technically competent staff. A
strong relationship with the ITO best serves our
industry and has proven to be the most effective
method of delivery.
“The skills shortage is real and major changes
without proper due diligence, planning,
consultation, industry input, ITO consultation and
finally peer review is nothing short of reckless
for an industry already in trouble. Clearly the
Ministry has no intention of listening to our needs
and wants. The six-week consultation period
is completely insulting and purely to tick a box
saying industry was consulted, but we don’t
have time to explore what options would support
industry rather than risk it further.”
Pippa Hawkins, general manager of Retail Meat
NZ, says Competenz has supported, developed
and grown apprentice numbers over the years
to make butchery one of the better performing
industries. She is concerned that on-the-job
learning may disappear completely.
“We’re a small industry and on-the-job learning is
extremely important. We would be devastated to
see it return to a classroom-only format and feel
there is not enough detail from the government
about how this new concept will work. Industry
training has already been reviewed multiple times
in previous years and the current method is
working well.”
Ruth Cobb, general manager of PrintNZ, says
the printing industry is going through rapid
technology advancement and it is important that
training programmes reflect these advances
and are adapted accordingly. She says there is
nothing in the reform that encourages businesses
to train people, and radical change would bring
about uncertainty.
“A downturn in training could be devastating
for the printing industry. A successful learning
environment cannot be created anywhere
other than in a workplace and any suggestion
of centralising such specific learnings would be
detrimental. History has proven that disruption
will slow down the number of businesses
willing to commit to training people at a time
when it’s critical that we can attract people and
demonstrate a career path for them.
“The loss of being recognised as a niche industry
and having the ability to influence outcomes that
are particular to us could result in a disconnect
between what industry needs and what is
delivered.”
Ken Sowman, ceo of Plastics NZ, says businesses
are concerned that a radical reform could result in
a training hiatus.
“Such a rapid transition to the new structure will
result in training effectively ceasing for several
years while those new structures are bedded in.
The reform will not only result in less industry
input into training and therefore less relevance,
they will also destroy the industry’s partnership
with our ITO, which is only just recovering from
reforms five years ago.”
DEVASTATING
FOR
NEW ZEALAND
INDUSTRY
BUSINESS OWNERS AND INDUSTRY LEADERS RESPOND TO THE GOVERNMENT’S
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION REFORM
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