Trades feel powerless after vocational education reforms

Some trades are concerned the new structure of trades training won’t give students a modern education and say it can’t be called an industry model when they have no say on funding.

The government has undertaken a controversial and bedevilled restructure of vocational training, bringing together 16 polytechnics and institutes of technology, as well as nine industry training organisations under the auspices of the “mega polytech” Te Pukenga.

Master Plumbers chief executive Greg Wallace says these “massive reforms” had been sold to the industry as a saviour, but he holds serious concerns they won’t help the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying industry attract and train the people it needs.

Under the new regime, Workforce Development Councils have been set up to ensure the curriculum of vocational education meets the needs of trade industries. They are intended to be the "voice of industry" in training.

These councils can create qualifications and set standards, and advise the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) on investment, moderate assessments against industry standards or set and moderate assessments at the end of a qualification.

Wallace says the WDC’s have been set up to be toothless, because while they can make recommendations on investments, they have no say on capital expenditure.

 “We have little or no influence.”

He says Master Plumbers was told in meetings with Education Minister Chris Hipkins and others that industry would have much more say and influence on trades training under the new structure.

“But the reality is it's not really the case at all. And that transition has been incredibly painful.”

Wallace says the reforms are not giving the industry what it needs. He points to Australia, where he says there is one state-of-the-art centre of excellence for industry where plumbing students work on modern tools and learn modern techniques. He says in New Zealand, instead, we have a proliferation of training organisations with varying quality.

He says there is investment happening now into plumbing training facilities by private training organisations and polytechnics which the WDC have no say over.

“And when I go to Australia and tell them we have 16 training facilities across New Zealand, they look at me like I’m crazy.”

He says ideally there would be three training centres for the plumbing industry that were purpose built, which would give students a better experience and also help address a tutor shortage.

Wallace says current training providers have failed to modernise, haven’t been able to get theoretical parts of the courses online and thousands of apprentice plumbers have fallen behind because of COVID course closures.

He says attendance at plumbing courses is also an issue.

“So we're not filling the spaces we should be.”

Graham Moor, chief executive of the Roofing Association, has some different concerns. He’s worried that smaller trades, like roofing, will get lost in the system.

He says, like Wallace, his industry only wants modern facilities and agrees three facilities with top-class training would be better than lesser offerings spread across the country.

“We're not seeing the innovation that I was expecting.”

Moor says young people are into gadgets and technology, and industry should be able to bridge that divide and work out how to appeal to them. He says virtual reality for example could be a way of melding technology and learning. 

“What it was promised to do and what it's delivered seem to be polls apart.”

Warwick Quinn, deputy chief executive employer journey and experience at Te Pukenga said in an emailed statement that the Workforce Development Councils have been established to be a key agent of industry.

“The reform of vocational education strengthens the employer’s voice and the ability of industry to ensure it gets what it needs.”

He said Te Pukenga will ensure industry needs are embedded within the programme and course content and they will have a strong voice within Te Pukenga. 

“We know how important it is that we reflect the needs of employers and industry in the training and learning opportunities we deliver so to that end we are currently recruiting for a deputy chief executive learner and employer experience and attraction. This role will be vital in championing the voices of employers and industry at the executive level and right across our organisation.”

TEC and Hipkins' office both referred Interest.co.nz to Te Pukenga for comment.