‘Jury still out’ on polytech shake-up

A proposed overhaul to polytechnics could see big changes to the top of the south education sector, including job cuts.

Staff and students of the top of the south’s tertiary institute are being encouraged to make their views known about the proposal to centralise 16 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITP).

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) would become a regional branch of New Zealand Institute of Skills & Technology if the major shake-up, proposed last week, goes ahead.

The announcement by Minister of Education Chris Hipkins to fix the ‘‘broken’’ sector followed four polytechs being bailed out by the Government to the tune of $100 million in 2017.

NMIT chief executive Liam Sloan said the ‘‘jury’s still out’’ on whether the proposed plan to establish one New Zealand-wide ITP was the right idea.

‘‘We require additional detail, we need to know how that will look in terms of individual autonomy.’’

Sloan said what was important was all communities and regions got the educational opportunities they needed.

The sector lost $53 million in 2017, and four ITPS – Greymouth’s Tai Poutini Polytechnic, Wellington’s Whitireia and Weltec, and Unitec in Auckland – together received $100m in Crown bailouts last year.

However, Sloan said NMIT, which had campuses in Blenheim and Nelson, was in a ‘‘strong’’ financial position and on track to post a surplus this year.

Sloan said they were happy with current student numbers; however, low enrolments in Marlborough had been a concern ‘‘for some time’’.

He said consultation to determine which curriculum would be delivered at the Blenheim campus had just been completed.

‘‘This is a prime opportunity for Marlborough, Nelson and Te Tau Ihu to influence and shape what we need in the communities.’’

He said the proposals had left the educational institute in an odd situation. ‘‘It’s very much business as unusual. We have to manage our students and give them confidence. Until we know the answers, staff and students won’t feel secure.

‘‘NMIT is full of talented people and we . . . want to make sure they remain during this period of change. We’ll be working hard to retain the talent,’’ Sloan said.

NMIT chairman Daryl Wehner said the institute supported the intention of the proposal, however, having a single NZ Institute of Skills and Technology was likely to have significant implications.

He said NMIT was particularly pleased the proposal recommended the regional delivery of vocational education.

NMIT would begin its own consultation over the next six weeks.

Viticulture and winemaking student Remy Le Brun, who is in his second year of study, said he had no issue with the proposed changes as long as the curriculum was at the same standard and the tutors remained. ‘‘It’s frustrating when tutors get around,’’ Le Brun said.

His worries were changes to the quality of the course devaluing his degree, and his school fees increasing.

There would be an opportunity for the Marlborough community to meet officials and have their say, Sloan said. ‘‘We need people who are passionate about the future of education to tell us their views.’’

Sloan said it was ‘‘inevitable’’ there would be redundancies across the sector but these were all questions to be answered.

There was no framework around what centralising the ITPS meant. ‘‘If having one ITP makes the sector, in the minister’s view, sustainable, then that’s great. It’s still unclear if that’s what is actually going to go ahead.’’

NMIT saw a return to surplus last year after two years of planned budget deficits due to the closure its international campus in Auckland late in 2017.

Feedback is being sought by the Government until March 27. switched