The Government has given details of a fund, announced in the Budget, that will remove the costs for learners, apprentices and employers.
Qualifications covered include the level three qualificatons in horticulture and forestry operations and the level four qualification in dairy farming.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins said the fund will encourage and support New Zealanders to do vocational education and training in high-demand industries.
“We know as a result of covid-19 many New Zealanders will be looking to retrain and employers in key sectors will need more skilled people,” Hipkins said.
“We’re working hard to connect the two sides of the equation by making this process as simple and practical as possible. It’s designed not just for school leavers but for people in a range of circumstances and stages of their lives.
“That means we’ve removed costs for learners, apprentices or employers – for the next two and a half years, are targeting courses and programmes that are more likely to lead to jobs. We will also be deliberate in promoting vocational education for all ages.
“Every course is different and the cost for learners at tertiary providers, industry trainees and apprentices varies but in many cases they will save between $2500 and $6500 per year.
“Apprentices and learners whose courses started earlier in the year but continue beyond July 1 will be eligible for a partial refund.
“Circumstances dictate the need to move fast.”
From July 1 and for the rest of 2020 the package targets vocational programmes in pimary industries, including agriculture, horticulture and viticulture, fisheries including aquaculture and forestry.
“The $320 million fund is part of a wider package to get NZ moving again. It will work alongside the Employer Apprenticeship subsidy scheme, of which we’ll be announcing further details shortly,” Hipkins said.
“These responses to covid-19 supercharge the big changes we are making to the vocational system. They build on the knowledge that learning isn’t limited to a classroom – it’s something that can take place anytime, anywhere.
“We are making a significant paradigm shift from seeing learning as a system or institution that learners need to fit their lives around to seeing learning as something that needs to flex and fit around each person and the lives they live,” Hipkins said.
