Labour

Skills shortages in agricultural science --- where New Zealand should lead internationally in growing talent --- shows National still failing to recognise the need to develop a skills-based economy, says Labour’s Deputy Leader and Tertiary Education, Skills and Training spokesperson Grant Robertson.

 Adult Community Education is withering away with 165,000 fewer people enrolled in ACE courses at schools and community groups than in 2009, Labour Tertiary Education spokesperson David Shearer says.

National's squeeze on tertiary funding is having real consequences for our universities, our students and the future of our economy, says Labour's spokesperson for Tertiary Education David Shearer.

 Older workers should be encouraged to up-skill or retrain rather than being shut out of educational opportunities that could improve their work situation, says Labour’s Tertiary Education Spokesperson David Shearer.

 “Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce has been systematically making it more difficult for older New Zealanders to access education.

Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce needs to explain why his policies are delivering fewer university places for first year students next year, despite high unemployment and the Minister having taken money from workplace training to pay for more places, Grant Robertson Labour Tertiary Education Spokesperson said.

Althoughthe final sign off of approval has been given to the merger of the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) and Gisborne's Tairawhiti Polytechnic, Labour MP’s Grant Robertson and Moana Mackey are calling on the government to support strong regional Polytechnics to lift regional economic development.

Low quality courses and providers who mislead students are damaging New Zealand's export education industry, and need to be dealt with speedily, says Labour's Tertiary Education spokesperson Grant Robertson.

 The much anticipated review of special education has a laudable goal of creating 80% of schools as being fully inclusive schools by 2014, but is sadly lacking in any detail of how the goal will be reached."  Grant Robertson Labour Spokesperson on Special Education said.

The Minister of Education Anne Tolley’s decision to cease funding Pacific language education programmes in New Zealand schools will be detrimental to pacific students, says Labour Associate Education spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni.

The decision by National and ACT to support a bill to make student association membership voluntary will destroy the representation, advocacy and services that students receive from student associations, and as a result will undermine the educational success and campus experience of many students,  Grant Robertson Labour Tertiary Education Spokesperson said.