Director’s News August 2024

Redesign of the vocational education and training system

As you may be aware, the Government has announced it is disestablishing Te Pūkenga, the national skills and training body. BCITO, along with eight other industry training organisations and 16 polytechnics, was merged by the Labour Government into Te Pūkenga in 2021.

Now the National led Government is disestablishing Te Pūkenga, the Minister of Tertiary Education Hon Penny Simmonds has released an options paper for consultation on the Redesign of the Vocational Education and Training System.

There are three areas the Government is seeking feedback on. These are:

• Creating a healthy ITP network that responds to regional needs
• Two options for how work-based learning should be structured   
• Proposed changes to how vocational education will be funded 

You can read more about these proposals on the Ministry of Education website. Submissions close 12 September 2024.

What you need to know:

• Government’s decisions will be released in November 2024. However, many of the changes will take most of 2025 to be put in place. BCITO will continue to work with employers and apprentices through the changes. We have been supporting industry for over 34 years and will continue to do so through this process and beyond.
• Your industry’s employers and learners deserve stability in apprentice and workplace training and we are committed to providing that on your behalf.
• The options being consulted on provide greater industry involvement and control than what was offered under the current Te Pūkenga model, which we welcome.
• Under all models the employer will remain the trainer. This is critical for successful apprenticeships.
• BCITO will provide feedback on both options, based on your input and our extensive experience in the sector.

Our commitment to you

BCITO is calling for a fast and enduring solution, that recognises the value of the employer and apprentice relationship in workplace learning. We want to ensure industry control and leadership over workplace-based training.

We will be advocating for a model that enables a thriving building and construction industry in New Zealand.

During this period of change, we will continue to deliver the same great support and the same great service. As always, you can expect us to:

• Continue delivering the very best service and learning support tools to help our learners achieve their qualification.
• Continue listening to industry voice to make sure our support is what’s most useful to your industry, now and in the future.
• Continue to advocate on your behalf for the things we know make a difference to you and your business.

Share your voice

BCITO wants to hear your views, so that our submission to the Government is grounded in the needs of those involved in training. Please take the opportunity to share your thoughts with us.

• If you are a current employer or an apprentice, you can share your thoughts via a short survey.
• You can read the BCITO explainer document that summarises the three proposals.
• We are hosting a meeting later this month with key industry representatives to review the proposal from a construction industry perspective and gather industry views on what is proposed. This information will be integrated into our submission, so you can be assured we are advocating for what’s best for industry.
• During the consultation period, the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) are hosting information sessions. View dates and details.
  • A briefing specifically for learners is being held online by the TEC on 22 August, 5.30 – 6.30pm. Register for this session.
• You can also make a submission as an individual. More information is available on the Ministry of Education website.

If you have any questions or comments about the process, please contact us at review2024@bcito.org.nz

BCITO Fees Support extension

On a totally different topic, I am very pleased to announce we have extended our BCITO Fees Support initiative to 31 December 2024.

This means first-year Fees Support is now available for all new BCITO apprenticeship and supervisor training agreements that start between 1 March 2024 and 31 December 2024. This is an additional opportunity of four months for new learners.

Along with very positive industry responses to the Fees Support initiative, over 4,000 apprentices have benefited, and we hope extending the initiative encourages more people to train with BCITO. This initiative is on top of the Government’s $500 a month Apprenticeship Boost payment to support employers with new apprentices.

Find out more