3 Jul 2024

What needs to happen to get vocational education moving in the right direction?

From Nine To Noon, 9:07 am on 3 July 2024
Te Pukenga

Photo: supplied

What will unwinding Te Pūkenga look like for students and staff in the vocational education sector?

The Government has promised it'll reveal its plans for the mega institute in the coming weeks, and will seek feedback.

Te Pūkenga - a merger of the country's polytechs and industry training organisations - was officially launched 18 months ago, but was more than three years into the process, when the incoming National government halted it.

The former polytechs and ITO's  have been lending to each other, to the tune of $170 million. And it's unclear what will happen with that money, or with asset sales, as disestablishment continues.

The Tertiary Education and Skills minister Penny Simmonds says unpacking the complicated financial situation is a major piece of work, as its constituent parts all have different financial positions.

While some had maintained financial reserves, others had significant debt. The government's plan for disestablishment was due about now.

But how will it happen?

Kathryn spoke to Phil Ker, the former chief executive of Otago Polytechnic, and Julie Douglas, the president of the Tertiary Education Union.