November 26, 2021

New Zealand: A Major Reform of its Vocational Education System

A At the recently held Asia Pacific Technical and Vocational Education Forum (APAC TVET), organised by Education New Zealand, Skills Consulting Group — the country’s largest private sector vocational education consultancy, and Te Pūkenga, New Zealand’s new national institution for Vocational Education and Training, New Zealand undertook a major reform of its vocational education system.

The virtually held Asia Pacific Technical and Vocational Education Forum, under the theme ‘Bringing Us Together’, saw a coming together of leading members and experts across the education industry, government and international organisations. “We are aiming to create a strong, unified, and sustainable system — one that’s aligned with the future of work, one that is able to deliver the skills that will help learners, employers, and communities to thrive,” said New Zealand Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins.

RoVE, will not just make minor changes, but it will also fundamentally change the country’s vocational education system

Speaking on the matter of skill shortages across industries, Chris Hipkins also said that the program of reform of vocational education and training system, also known as RoVE, will not just make minor changes, but it will also fundamentally change the country’s vocational education system, making it fit for the future and bringing it closer to the needs of learners and employers. “We were also operating under a split system that drew a fairly arbitrary distinction between on-the-job learning and classroom-based learning,” said Chris Hipkins. “We recognised that that wasn’t necessarily meeting the needs of all of our employers and learners. So what we are moving towards now is a nationally integrated network of vocational education, “ he added. The idea is to help learners navigate seamlessly between modes of studies, whether classroom or online or from their respective jobs, or even moving between different regions.

The reform of vocational education will also include the establishment of six Workforce Development Councils, 15 Regional Skills Leadership Groups, Centres of Vocational Excellence, a unified funding system, and simplifying the qualifications design. Also, Te Pūkenga will deliver applied vocational learning across all levels of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. While elaborating on other important aspects of the reform, New Zealand Qualifications Authority chief executive Grant Klinkum said, “Another absolute fundamental of the reform is to ensure that there is a new type of relationship between the Crown and the Maori [people]. And, in the establishment of Te Pūkenga, the Workforce Development Councils, and the role of Te Taumata Aronui, a group that advises ministers, Maori are in a much more influential partnership role with Crown agencies.”

Posted in News and tagged New Zealand, News, Education, Vocational Education, Education Reform
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