Tue, 28 Sep 2004
National Education Spokesman
Trade skill levels dropping
New Zealand apprentices are no longer being entered into international competitions because their training is not up to
scratch, says National's Education spokesman, Bill English.
"Youth Skills New Zealand has written to polytechnics explaining that it is no longer entering apprentices into some
international competitions because they lack the skills required," he says.
The letter expresses concern that our training standards are slipping relative to the rest of the world, and cites
electrical wiring, carpentry, plumbing and brick-laying as areas of prime concern in the building sector alone.
"This backs up growing anecdotal evidence from employers that the quality of skills training is dropping," says Mr
English.
"New Zealand's best apprentices should be able to foot it with the best in the world and, until the late 1990s, they
could."
This year's Budget promised to boost numbers of apprenticeships. The detail of the package was announced today.
"If Labour is serious about apprenticeships and addressing the skills problems we are facing, they will focus on
improving skills not just churn out 1,000 extra sub-standard apprenticeships," says Mr English
ENDS