4. Hon MARYAN STREET (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister for Tertiary Education
How does she expect cuts in Adult and Community Education to “…ensure that New Zealand is positioned to take advantage of the economic recovery as it happens” as she has stated previously about the Government’s aim in Vote Education?
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Acting Minister for Tertiary Education) Link to this
As I have told the member for the last 2 days when she has asked the same question, the Government remains committed to adult and community education because it sees value in it. Over the next 4 years we will spend $124 million on adult and community education.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
How does a cut of $70 million for adult and community education courses that are specifically targeted at literacy, language, and numeracy skills enhance the ability for people, especially young people, to upskill and retrain?
As the previous Government had, this Government has extensive investment in helping young people to upskill and retrain. We happen to think that it is time to tidy up that sector because of the misdirected policy of the last Government. In addition to that funding of hundreds of millions of dollars for young people to upskill and retrain, the Government will be spending $124 million over the next 4 years on adult and community education.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
How does the Minister for Tertiary Education reconcile the cuts in adult and community education affecting valuable parent education classes in west Auckland, Ōrewa, and Tauranga—as examples only—with the National Party’s centrepiece pre-election policy that promoted parenting courses as an essential part of what was known as “A Fresh Start for New Zealand”?
I make two points. Firstly, there is $124 million available for adult and community education, which will be allocated consistent with the Government’s priorities. Secondly, there is some confusion over the impact of changes to do with adult and community education. All community groups that are currently funded in their own right will continue to be funded. Some get funding through subcontracts with schools, and they will have to go through the priority process.
Aaron GilmoreWhat statements has the Minister for Tertiary Education seen endorsing the need to reprioritise tertiary education funding?
I have seen a statement that says: “it is about prioritising what is a shrinking amount of money so I think that any government, and that’s true of National or Labour, would have had to of sat down and said ‘Okay, we in good faith,” can we do what we said we would do? “ ‘Maybe we should have a think about what comes first.’ ” That statement, a very wise one, comes from the Hon Steve Maharey, who is currently the vice-chancellor of Massey University.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
What does the Minister say to the woman who wrote to me recently and said: “Personally I have been taking night classes at various institutions around Nelson for the last 19 years. When I was made redundant and feeling pretty worthless, I signed up for various classes at Nayland College, and these helped me feel like a worthwhile person again. I have learned Maori language and gained qualifications through night classes. I have gained so much from them, and on speaking to others at the classes I currently attend they all feel the same.”? How does the Minister encourage this woman to take advantage of the economic recovery as it happens, if her adult and community education classes are axed?
I would say two things. First, the Government will spend over $120 million in the next 4 years on the kinds of classes that that woman benefited from. Second, she will have the opportunity to take further opportunities as a result of the expenditure of well over a billion dollars on tertiary education, which is open to any adult in New Zealand who wants to, for instance, study Māori language or learn other skills so that he or she can get a job.