Tertiary Education Union Te Hautū Kahurangi o Aotearoa
10 November 2016

Northtec the first to announce Level 2 funding cuts

Northtec is one of many polytechnics about to receive confirmation from the Tertiary Education Commission that it will lose a large amount of Level 2 funding next year.

The polytechnic wrote to all its staff yesterday, warning them that this would mean the need to halve its Level 2 delivery next year, and that other directorate support service areas will also need reductions in staffing.

TEU organiser Chan Dixon, says Level 2 courses are crucial for young people coming out of school with few or no qualifications.

"The government's competitive funding experiment is removing education opportunities from young people who want and need an education."

"These government funding cuts are an attack on public education, on local and regional communities, and on young and second-chance learners who need an education," says Dixon.

Northtec managers say they will release a consultation document that will identify areas that the commission will not fund next year.

TEU expects that NorthTec will not be alone in suffering cuts to its funding. There are reports that the commission will cut a large amount of funding from Institutes of Technology and Polytechnic Level 2 sector delivery across the country.

"This will be a difficult time, as it will inevitably result in the reduction of a number of roles in the period before Christmas and into early next year. This will also affect families and whanau," wrote Northtec acting chief executive Mark Ewan to people working at Northtec.

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