$1.6b for training in bid to boost NZ jobs

The South Island’s largest vocational teaching provider says it may see an increase in student enrolments, after Thursday’s Budget promised $1.6 billion for trade and apprenticeship training.

Funding for courses in construction, agriculture, manufacturing, community health, counselling and care work will be available from July 1 as part of the country’s Covid19

recovery plan. Education Minister Chris Hipkins said the free vocational training will be available for people of all ages — not just school-leavers — over the next two years.

The scheme will retrain people who have lost jobs and allow new employees in some essential services to train on the job.

‘‘As we emerge from this health crisis, it is important that we now invest in training and education for people who might have lost their jobs, or who want to move into a different sector where prospects are better,’’ Hipkins said. The cash includes:

$334m for additional tertiary education enrolments.

$412m for employers to retain and keep training their apprentices.

$141m to support high quality tertiary and trades education.

$50m for a Ma¯ ori Apprenticeships Fund.

Ara Institute of Canterbury chief executive Tony Gray welcomed the announcement, but said it was too early to understand the ‘‘precise allocations’’ of the Government cash.

‘‘We’ll be looking to make sure that we’re working with industry and businesses to meet their needs, and while so doing, also working with other tertiary partners in a way that ensures that funding is used efficiently for both immediate training, as well as ongoing workforce development needs.’’

Ara currently has 17,000 students studying at campuses in Ashburton, Christchurch, Timaru and Oamaru, and Gray said the investment could mean an increase in students and the number of courses that are offered.

‘‘We’ll be looking to make sure that we’re working with industry and businesses to meet their needs . . . ’’

‘‘The reality is that we will potentially see higher numbers, simply because of the number of people who may be looking for retraining and upskilling.’’

The Budget announcement was also welcomed by Murray Strong, council chair of the newlyestablished New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, who said the timing and extent of the package is ‘‘significant’’.

‘‘There are many people in New Zealand right now who are facing significant hardship as a result of the social and economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and that may increase as the year progresses,’’ he said.

A University of Canterbury (UC) study grant has been launched to support people facing redundancy, suspension or significant reductions in work hours .

FutureU will enable people to upskill or change careers with grants of up to $7500 per person to subsidise tuition fees.

A new fast-track plan at UC’s College of Engineering is aimed at enabling technically skilled workers to study an engineering degree.