工党办公室专：国家党政府置理工学院于危险之境

　　政府决定削减理工学院拨款3200万纽元，对于在我国为促进各地区经济成长、提升就业与技能起到关键作用的理工院校是一个重大打击。　　很多理工学院的基础课程的政府拨款已经被停，政府是把这些课程转给给了私营机

　　很多理工学院的基础课程的政府拨款已经被停，政府是把这些课程转给给了私营机构。这么做的结果是导致一系列科目被取消、招生人数被减、以及更大范围的失业。理工学院是我国地区技能培训的核心，而政府所为正在对他们造成损害。

　　把科目转包给私营培训机构是国家党追求进一步把高等教育私有化而采取的行动。他们同样热衷于追求最省钱模式。这么做也许在短期内能省些钱，可是从长远来看只会毁坏我国各地区高等教育的质量。

　　至今为止南岛、新普利茅斯、北帕、Whanganui、霍克斯湾、内尔森等地的理工学院都已经宣布了经费和人员要裁减，我知道接下来还会有更多裁减声明。基础课程的削减将伤及教育整体质量并影响到雇员人数。迄今为止已经公布将有100名员工被裁员。各校将因此失去成千上万学生，25门以上的课程已经被砍掉。这对各院校将造成巨大打击。

　　今天，全国上下的学生与教职员工们正在抗议政府的削减。斯蒂芬•乔伊斯及国家党政府应当倾听人们的呼声。我们期待理工学院能为它们所在地区提供当地所需要的一系列课程。最新的这些削减是在早前已砍掉6000万纽元拨款之后的再度砍削。如果国家党政府继续这么打击理工学院，就别指望各地理工学院能提供他们之前的课程了。现在是政府停止这种损害行为，对新西兰经济成长所需要的高质量公众培训提供支持的时候了。（霍建强议员办公室供稿）

　　Grant

　　ROBERTSON

　　Tertiary Education, Skills and Training spokesperson  

　　22 November 2012                                                        MEDIA STATEMENT

　　Government puts polytechnics in peril

　　The Government’s decision to cut $32 million in funding from polytechnics is a major blow to institutions that play a critical role in promoting regional economic growth, jobs and skills, Labour’s Tertiary Education, Skills and Training spokesperson Grant Robertson said.

　　“The Government has stopped funding foundation courses at a number of polytechnics and handed over the programmes to private providers. The result is a range of programmes and student places being cut and widespread job losses. These polytechnics are the heart of training and skills development in the regions and the Government is undermining them.

　　“By allocating the programmes to private training providers the Government is pursuing its agenda of privatising more of the tertiary education sector. They are also chasing a least cost model.  It might save them some money in the short term, but in the long term it will damage the quality of tertiary education that is provided, especially in the regions.

　　“So far polytechnics in south Auckland, New Plymouth, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Hawkes Bay and Nelson have announced cuts, and I am aware that there are more to come. The cuts to foundation studies programmes affect the overall provision that is possible, and the number of staff that can be employed. So far around 100 staff cuts have been announced. Thousands of student places have gone, and more than 25 courses have been cut. The flow-on affects to the institutions will be significant.

　　“Around the country today staff and students are protesting against these cuts.  Steven Joyce and the National Government should listen to them. We expect polytechnics to provide a range of courses to meet the needs of their regions. These latest cuts come on the back of $60 million of earlier cuts. The Government simply cannot expect the polytechnics to keep providing the programmes and courses they have if they keep undermining them.

　　“It’s time for the Government to stop undermining, and get in behind quality public training that is needed to give New Zealand the skills to grow our economy,” Grant Robertson said.