Minister for Tertiary Education, Penny Simmonds proposed significantly increasing the maximum rate a university can increase fees by annually. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The Tertiary Education Minister says it's inevitable the polytech sector will go through more job losses in the complex unravelling of Te Pukenga - the national Institute of Skills and Technology.
Penny Simmonds says by January 1, she expects as many as five or six institutes to be ready stand on their own, with perhaps another three achieving that throughout the year.
The less viable institutions of the 16 that went into Te Pukenga, and will now come under Open Polytechnic/ She says they will retain a physical presence in their communities.
The minister is disputing the views of former polytech heads who say the sector has never been funded to achieve sustainability, while conceding funding next year will be tight.
And the Minister is standing by her position that Te Pukenga has $250 million of debt despite the organisation's annual report putting the debt figure at about $50 million.
