Education shake-up

I want to express my concern for the future of tertiary and apprenticeship training in the Otago and Southland regions, in the wake of the Government’s proposed polytechnics mega-merger.

My biggest concern is the loss of autonomy and regional independence, with the Government’s new NZ Institute of Skills and Technology, operating out of Wellington, taking over polytechnic programme design and management.

I fail to see how this one-size-fits-all arrangement will work, with our polytechnics and local campuses becoming nothing more than a division of a national organisation, losing much of their regional expertise and input.

There have been such exciting and innovative programmes developed through campuses like Otago Polytechnic in Central Otago, including adventure tourism, hospitality and viticulture, and innovative business and trades training developed at Invercargill’s SIT.

Sadly, the loss of local input will mean many courses like these will be unlikely to see the light of day. Of course, it’s these successful industrytailored programmes that have been developed in response to local needs, which have provided graduates with very strong future employment options.

I’m also very concerned that the enrolment and management of apprentices and industry trainees will be removed from local Industry Training Organisations across Otago and Southland.

Again, it’s this potential loss of local knowledge and essential regional industry input that could have huge negative implications for trades and industry training. In fact, losing the experience of staff built up over many years will be a travesty.

What’s worse, while no institutions have been named as facing closure, there is a suggestion the future of satellite campuses could be affected. This does not bode well for staff and students at places like Cromwell campus and SIT’s Gore or Queenstown campuses.

These regional campuses are a community hub, attracting staff and students to live in the area, train locally and often graduate to work there and boost the local economy.

Otago and Southland have polytechnics that are internationally recognised, and that are the envy of many. Why jeopardise this success in order to prop up other failing institutions.

I believe that the Government has failed to take into account the farreaching implications of its polytechnic mega-merger proposal and that ripping the heart out of regional tertiary and trades-based training will not improve the educational options for many.

Jacqui Dean National Waitaki MP