Throughout 2018, the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) engaged with vocational education and training sector stakeholders, including learners (students, industry trainees and apprentices), employers, iwi, business, industry groups, local government, education and training providers and their staff, and a variety of peak bodies.
As a result of this engagement, this Government made three main proposals for change:
On 13 February 2019, the Minister of Education Chris Hipkins presented the three proposals to the vocational education and training sector and launched a seven-week consultation. The consultation was open for everyone to provide feedback on.
We received 2,904 submissions, and met with more than 5,000 people in approximately 190 events, meetings and forums, listening to your feedback and thoughts on the proposals and getting a clearer picture of what you hold dear in relation to the vocational education system.
Thirty-five meetings and events were held specifically for staff and management at the 11 industry training organisations, while 99 meetings and events were organised with the 16 institutes of technology and polytechnics.
This infographic provides key engagement facts for the consultation period.
The consultation documents describe the proposed changes:
The Government has announced its final decisions on the reform proposals, but engagement with industry, education providers and the community and whānau and others affected will continue throughout the design process. The input of those who work within the sector is vital to ensuring we get this right and the system we end up with does what we have set out to achieve.
There will be a wide variety of activities, including:
If you’d like to keep up to date on the Reform of Vocational Education, you can subscribe to the Tertiary Education Commission email newsletters on their website:
Government announces new vision for vocational education - TEC website
These factsheets may help you to understand the proposals:
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for students [PDF, 390KB]
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for trainees and apprentices [PDF, 400KB]
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for international students [PDF, 388KB]
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for learners with disabilities [PDF, 383KB]
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for Māori learners [PDF, 435KB]
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for Pacific learners [PDF, 433KB]
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for schools and wharekura [PDF, 393KB]
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for secondary students and whānau [PDF, 530KB]
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for employers [PDF, 669KB]
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for Staff of ITP's [PDF, 403KB]
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for Staff of ITO's [PDF, 417KB]
Additional information on is available at these links:
Information concerning the decision-making process for the Reform of Vocational Education proposals can be found at the following links:
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for Pacific learners - SAMOAN [PDF, 198KB]
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for Pacific learners - TONGAN [PDF, 188KB]
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for Pacific learners - COOK ISLAND MAORI [PDF, 188KB]
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for Pacific learners - NIUEAN [PDF, 167KB]
What the Reform of Vocational Education means for Pacific learners - TOKELAUAN [PDF, 174KB]