1.2% funding increase leaves ITPs (and NZ) short

14 December 2007

MEDIA RELEASE

From: Institutes of Technology & Polytechnics of New Zealand

1.2% funding increase leaves ITPs (and NZ) short

“The government’s 1.2% funding increase for institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs) leaves the sector and the country short. Most importantly, it reduces ITPs’ ability to deliver what New Zealand needs. ITPs play the leading role in providing vocational and applied education and research, and they need resources to maintain and improve their contribution,” said Dave Guerin, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics of New Zealand (ITP New Zealand) Executive Director

The Tertiary Education Commission announced today that the ITP sector’s funding would increase by 1.2% in 2008 over 2007 levels. This is half the inflation rate and a much smaller fraction of the increase in other tertiary education sub-sectors.

“The government has focused this year on reducing funding to the ‘wrong’ activities. From today, the debate has to shift to delivering resources where it matters for employers, communities and students. The signal sent by today’s announcement runs counter to that imperative.”

“ITPs have spent months working with the TEC on plans that will deliver new qualifications, research links with industry and regional development. The resources now have to be secured to deliver those benefits to New Zealand. This announcement falls short.”

“A major focus of the TEC’s announcement is out of region provision. Most ITP New Zealand members support constraints on out of region provision and have agreed to work together to identify and manage provision in other ITPs’ regions. Some members are pursuing a different approach. “

“We acknowledge that CPI adjustments have been advised for 2009 to 2011 and this will improve ITPs’ ability to plan.”

The allocations to individual ITPs vary considerably, but ITP New Zealand will not be commenting on the funding of individual ITPs.

ENDS

© Scoop Media