March 06, 2019
Māori alarmed at industry training overhaul
Industry training organisation group Te Rautaki Whakaroopu Māori has called an urgent hui to discuss the proposed reform of vocational education.
It says the March 14 hui at the Waikato-Tainui College in Hopuhopu hui is a chanced to develop a collective iwi position on the reform before submissions close on March 27
Skills Active ITO chair Sam Napia says the proposal seems to be poorly thought through and there is no evidence it is needed.
He says the short consultation period means Māori views can't be canvassed in full, despite the growing size of the Māori economy and demographic trends which mean a growing number of those needing vocational training are Māori.
An educated Māori workforce enjoys higher living standards and makes a greater contribution to Māori wellbeing, which is in line with the Government's commitment to the Living Standards Framework.
The Industry Training Federation chief executive Josh Williams says the reforms need to strengthen, rather than dismantle, ITO-arranged training and apprenticeships.
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