Tēnā koutou katoa
Yesterday, the Government released its Consultation Document and officials' Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) as part of the latest round of reforms to the vocational education and training (VET) system. Copies of both documents are attached below.
The Government is consulting on two options for replacing the Workforce Development Councils (WDCs):
- Option A – replace WDCs with a small number (possibly up to 8) of Industry Training Boards (ITBs), essentially returning to the old Industry Training Organisation (ITO) system.
- Option B – replace WDCs with a small number (possibly up to 8) of scaled down, industry-specific standards-setting bodies.
Pages 13–14 of the Consultation Document include examples of possible ITBs and industry standards-setters under the new system.
It looks like history repeating itself. None of our industries, aside from hair and beauty, are included in these examples, suggesting the options have been developed without seeing the current and future growth needs of our industries. Our continued industry coverage is at major risk in this reform.
As the smallest, least-funded and newest kid on the block in VET, Toi Mai has been battling on behalf of our industries since establishment. We have gathered never-before-collected data and insights to establish what our industries and workforces need from the vocational education and training system. It is clear from our engagements with industry over the past 2.5 years, our latest workforce development plans, feedback from providers, from attendees at our qualifications development and review wānanga and talanoa, and our recent industry impact survey, that there is a huge appetite for industry-led and delivered training in the Toi Mai sectors and much support for Toi Mai.
Unfortunately, we must still contend with a vocational education system that is designed around the needs of traditional industries, not our new and exciting industries and workforces that are so critical to New Zealand's economy, export growth, prosperity and wellbeing. We firmly believe that our sectors and their ambition need to be well represented in the vocational education and training system. They need to have more dedicated support than the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) can provide (which is the organisation that will take over standards setting for our qualifications should Toi Mai be disestablished).
You all lobbied so hard for Toi Mai to be established in the 2020 reforms. We are proud to keep fighting for our industries, and we strongly encourage you to read the documents and make a submission on the proposals to identify:
- which option you prefer for the replacement of WDCs
- the things that are missing from the options provided
- which functions the WDCs are currently doing that you prioritise
- the further reforms you want the system to make.
This isn’t necessarily a straightforward process. In reading the two documents, it’s easy to become confused as to the ‘why’ of the options presented for the WDCs. In its Consultation Document, the Government claims that the WDCs are not meeting industry needs. The RIS prepared by officials notes we are critical in providing industry with a voice on the content of vocational programmes. Their interim analysis does not indicate that there is a fundamental problem with the WDCs.
We will share our submission once we have completed it in a couple of weeks, but we are unlikely to have as much influence on this process as your industry voice. Cabinet has indicated it wants to hear from industries first-hand.
If you need help with your submission, we’d be happy to provide guidance.
The consultation period is open from 1 August to 12 September. During this time the Tertiary Education Commission will be hosting an industry webinar for all our affected industries. It will also be holding regional roadshows.
We will be in touch when the date has been set for the industry webinar and with information about the regional roadshow.
