July 22, 2019
Students keen to see polytech shake up
The New Zealand Union of Students' Association has backed the reform of vocational education.
It says it needs to support diverse learners, including Māori and Pasifika, rather than stick with the current homogenised western structure and way of educating.
Cabinet is likely to this week consider the proposal to recreate a national vocational training institute to replace the multitude of regional polytechnics.
Industry training organisations have attacked the proposals, which they say are to prop up financially troubles polytechs and will hurt Māori education.
The students associations want to see education that is flexible to suit the 21st century student, but avoiding an over-reliance on online learning.
They also want the reforms to restore some of the capability of independent student associations, which were undermined by National-ACT Party reforms which gutted campus student services and left some institutes with no student voice whatsoever.
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