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The Minister of Education says a massive shakeup of the polytech sector will get more people into on-the-job training while delivering financial stability.
16 polytechs around the country will be merged into one, with the creation of the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology. Industry Training Organisations, which currently manage apprenticeship training, will lose that role to the new institute, and will be replaced by new "industry skills bodies" which will be led by employers.
ITOs are warning the changes will undermine workplace training and apprenticeship programmes, at at time when the country faces a huge skills shortage.
Kathryn discusses the proposals with Michael Gilchrist, President of the Tertiary Education Union, Phil Ker, and Warwick Quinn from the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation.
