In December 2024, the Government released the outcome of its consultation on the future of the Vocational Education and Training System. You can find the media release here: Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions | Beehive.govt.nz
This outcome reaffirms the Government’s commitment to return decision making around vocational education and training to regions, and states its commitment to enabling greater industry input into work-based learning.
Te Pūkenga will be disestablished by the end of 2026 and ITPs will be allowed to be established as autonomous entities, either standalone or as part of a federation. Further decisions on the arrangements for each polytechnic will be made in the first half of 2025.
With regards to work-based learning, the announcement said that Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) would be established to be responsible for national standards setting (qualification, credential, and standards development, and programme endorsement), as well as a workforce planning function.
The Government indicated that further input would be sought from industry on two possible options for the future structure of work-based learning. These options are as follows:
- Option B from the 2024 consultation document: ISBs would be the standards setting entities, while work-based learning would be delivered through providers (similar to current arrangements). The key difference would be that Te Pūkenga’s work-based learning divisions (former ITOs) would become standalone entities. Under this option, polytechnics, Wānanga, and private training establishments would also be able to offer work-based learning.
- A new Option C: ISBs would take on the national training coordination and pastoral care functions for work-based learners and their employers. Tertiary providers, including polytechnics, Wānanga, and private training establishments would manage the education aspects of work-based learning, including enrolling learners, developing training materials, managing assessment, and delivering off-job training where required—learners would enrol with a provider. The work-based learning business divisions of Te Pūkenga would ultimately be disestablished, and it is expected that the staff and resources from these would be split between ISBs and providers as appropriate.
We have been advised that targeted consultation focused on these two options will take place in late January and into February 2025. For further information on this consultation, please contact the Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills.
Many thanks once again to those of you who joined us in providing feedback on the proposal that has led to this latest announcement. You can find the MITO submission on that proposal here.
If you have any comments or questions, please email us at info@mito.org.nz