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Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Claim govt setting up polytechs to fail
The government has been accused of setting up polytechnics to fail after the revelation that almost one in 10 jobs have been cut in the past year. Papers released under the Official Information Act showed staff figures at Te Pukenga dropped from 10,480 in 2023 to 9625 in 2024, a cut of about 8%. While the data did not break down into individual units, the information comes as Otago Polytechnic looks to slim down, announcing changes to the Capable NZ programme last week, and cutting nine courses before last Christmas. Te Pukenga was formed in 2020 by bringing together the country's 16 institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs). Green MP Francisco Hernandez said the staff cuts had been demoralising. "The damage of the government's destructive reforms to Te Pūkenga and their underfunding of our tertiary sector are being felt right across the country, with nearly one in 10 jobs being lost at Te Pūkenga. "These cuts will not just hurt staff and students but also the regional communities that depend on Te Pūkenga to deliver skills, jobs and training to our regions." He said communities were already feeling the impacts. Recent reports of cuts to Capable NZ were on top of cuts already made to courses such as the horticulture, health and English language programmes. "Instead of forcing critical polytechs to cut staff and programmes to stay afloat under the government's new model, the government needs to recognise the valuable work that polytechs and universities do and give them the resourcing and support they need to succeed." The government introduced legislation breaking up Te Pukenga last month, but it is not yet known which polytechnics would stand alone and which would be absorbed into the federation model. Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds said the government asked the Tertiary Education Commission to work with Te Pūkenga to support polytechnics in reviewing their operations — an exercise that "really should have taken place when Te Pūkenga was established", she said. "While the operational decisions are made by the institutions themselves, I believe it's appropriate that each polytechnic is taking the steps needed to ensure their long-term viability. "These decisions are never easy, but they are necessary to build a more stable and sustainable vocational education system." Asked about the potential loss of institutional memory at the polytechnics, Ms Simmonds conceded it could be an issue. "We need to ensure that as we transition into a new system, we retain the best of what our institutions and people have built over time. "That's why we are taking a measured approach to reform — ensuring there is continuity, while also creating a system that is better aligned with the needs of learners, employers, and regional economies." Tertiary Education Union assistant general secretary Daniel Benson-Guiu said the "real concern" was that nothing had been formally established to replace Te Pukenga. Several "strategic" courses had already faced cuts, he said. "We would like to see a vocational education system that can cater for all of the communities. "With these cuts, the government is setting itself up to fail." Ms Simmonds said the reforms to the system would make it more efficient. "It will be up to each polytechnic to manage its workforce in a way that reflects its financial situation, enrolment patterns, and local training needs. "Under the new system, I expect institutions to be more accountable and better equipped to make prudent, forward-looking staffing and operational choices."
Otago Daily Times
06-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Capable NZ set to lose 20 jobs
Otago Polytechnic staff are feeling "like stunned mullets" after the institution cut 20 jobs from a ground-breaking department. Staff were informed of the decision on Thursday to cut the Capable NZ department from about 30FTEs to nine FTES and an additional head of college role, after a proposal was put forward in March. Despite staff fighting for more jobs to be kept, management at Otago Polytechnic agreed on a rate of job cuts very similar to the March proposal. A staff member, who did not wish to be named, said people were "like stunned mullets" when they heard the news. "We expected a bit of pain, but nothing of this level. "The staff will try to teach the material to a gold-standard level, but it becomes increasingly difficult with far less staff support." Capable NZ allows students to apply and start any time and complete the required work from anywhere in New Zealand. Qualifications earned through Capable NZ have the same value as those earned through normal Otago Polytechnic programmes, or other tertiary institutions. Capable NZ had at its height more than 500 students. This had dropped to about 270 last year. The polytechnic blamed the ongoing effects of Covid-19 and the fact it was a politically fraught environment. Otago Polytechnic deputy executive director Mark Cartwright said "despite the change in structure, it's important to emphasise there will be no cuts to existing programmes". "We believe Capable NZ provides an important and meaningful service to our community and are committed to its continued delivery. "The purpose of the change is to ensure we are operating in a financially sustainable way. "We will move the Capable NZ department and all of its programmes to sit under Te Maru Pumanawa (TMP), our College of Creative Practice and Enterprise." Former Otago Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker said this week's announcement of cutbacks to Capable NZ, "represents a real vote of no confidence" in the department. He said many of the problems could be traced back to the merging of the country's 16 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) into the mega-polytechnic Te Pukenga. "At the advent of Te Pukenga, Capable NZ was the largest school at Otago Polytechnic, with nationwide coverage and offering highly innovative and unique programmes. That was why it had so many staff. "So, clearly it's fallen on hard times. What I am aware of is that there was considerable neglect on the marketing and promotion front across many aspects of Te Pukenga. "I've got no doubts that Capable NZ would have suffered from that." Mr Ker said despite these barriers, he was confident Capable NZ could rise again if managed properly. "The Capable NZ approach, which is at the undergraduate level, is still highly innovative in a global context, let alone in a New Zealand context. "It offers access to degree-level qualifications for people in work. That is as cost-effective as you can get. "So it seems to me that any downturn could easily be counteracted by a well-planned and well-focused marketing and recruitment programme." Staff told the Otago Daily Times they were worried about the bulk of the programme's institutional memory disappearing. Tertiary Education Union assistant secretary Daniel Benson-Guiu said Capable NZ was unique to Otago Polytechnic in that it was neither an "on campus" course or a "work-based learning" course. "People flocked to it outside of the polytechnic's catchment area," Mr Benson-Guiu said. "A programme like this allows the polytechnic to have a more national focus, which is what's needed to ensure student numbers remain good." Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds is due to make an announcement next month about which polytechnics will become autonomous and which ones remain in a "federation" model. Otago Polytechnic has frequently expressed a desire to become autonomous again. Mr Cartwright said Otago Polytechnic needed to "ensure the financial viability of our organisation to be able to stand alone". Asked about Mr Ker's comments about the job cuts being a "vote of no confidence" in Capable NZ, Mr Cartwright said "this difficult decision is in no way a reflection of the amazing work the team does, or the unique products they offer". "It is the result of steadily declining enrolments. The changes will ensure we are able to continue to provide these products and services in a financially viable way."
