Venkat Raman
Tertiary Education and Skills Training Programmes will undergo major changes and funding will depend on the number of graduates getting jobs, Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce said.
He said that his Ministry would announce ‘an avalanche of changes’ shortly revamping the tertiary education sector and put in place a new system of assessment of Private Training Establishments (PTEs) and tertiary education providers.
“Education must lead to skills development and be relevant to the needs of the New Zealand economy,” he said.
Mr Joyce was speaking at the tenth anniversary celebrations of the New Zealand School of Education (NZSE) at Sky City Convention Centre on December 11, 2014.
“Our new Strategy will focus on six core factors namely, Performance of PTEs and education providers, Developing Skills, Getting people started on their careers, Boosting the achievements of Maori and Pacifika, Adult Literacy and International students.
Revisiting Education
Mr Joyce said that there was a pronounced need to revisit tertiary education and make it more relevant to the changing needs of the society and the world.
“The Government is funding education, which is taxpayers’ money. We must ensure that such funding accrues the right results,” he said.
The Government is committed to invest a whopping $831 million on education over the next four years and the thinking in Wellington is that the beneficiary institutions should be made more accountable.
Earlier, NZSE Managing Director Brijesh Sethi said that his institution, with three campuses, was celebrating not only its tenth anniversary but also the success of its students over the years.
“We mark this important milestone with a renewed commitment to providing alternative tertiary education opportunities for Kiwis and international students. The aim is to help them transform their lives through the power of learning. Our key focus is on giving second chance learners an opportunity to embrace an exciting tertiary educational experience,” he said.
Figures released by the Institution indicated that almost 90% of its graduates had job placements, with similar percentages for Maori and Pasifika communities.
NZSE was the Sponsor of the ‘Best Accountant of the Year’ Category of the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 2014.
