Education job cuts rise to 775 from 565
Staff union says the level of cuts now making jobs harder
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is proposing to cut 40 roles, while the NZ ●ualifications Authority is proposing a net loss of 35 jobs. Meanwhile, it is understood the total number of cuts across the Ministry of Education’s groups has ballooned to more than 750.
It comes as public sector job cuts this week at the Department of Internal Affairs and Te Puni Kō kiri push the total number of job losses over 3500.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development said 10 of the roles going at its ministry were vacant.
The scale of proposed cuts across the education sector is dangerous and damaging . . .
Fleur Fitzsimons, PSA
Overall, it was a 10.4 per cent reduction in its workforce, with final decisions on the proposed changes coming mid-june, it said.
The PSA, the union that represents public service workers, said NZQA released its proposal to staff on Thursday.
Assistant Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said 66 roles were being disestablished, with 13 of those currently vacant, and 31 new roles proposed.
Fitzsimons said NZQA played a critical role in making sure New Zealand qualifications were nationally and internationally recognised and respected.
The cuts would make that job harder, she said.
At the same time the NZQA announcement was made, the Ministry of Education confirmed to staff it had now been advised of change proposals or decisions being made across all the ministry’s groups, the PSA said.
It understood that in total, there was a proposed net reduction of 755 positions across the ministry, of which 316 were vacant.
That is up from the proposed cuts to 565 jobs announced in April.
“The scale of proposed cuts across the education sector is dangerous and damaging and should concern parents and everyone who cares about the future of our children,” Fitzsimons said.