Napier and Gisborne Suffer Polytechnic Cuts

Tertiary Education Union
Media release
7 November 2012

Napier and Gisborne Suffer Polytechnic Cuts

Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) is planning to cut courses and staff after the government’s decision to strip tens of millions of dollars of level 1 and 2 funding from regional polytechnics around New Zealand. Overall, EIT told staff it is losing approximately 320 EFTS at Level 1 and Level 2 with a reduction in revenue in excess of $2.3m following the government cuts.

The announcement follows a decision by the government earlier this year to put one-third of its Level 1 and 2 student achievement funding up for tender – $38 million out of $115 million. When the minister announced the results of that tender process two-thirds of polytechnics had missed any funding at all, including EIT. Much of the money has gone instead to one of the wānanga and to private education companies.

Yesterday EIT told employees the equivalent of 12.9 full-time staff would lose their jobs from both the Napier and Tairawhiti campuses, and including both permanent and fixed term staff. Automotive and business school students and staff will be among those most affected.

The polytechnic also warned staff that there would probably be further cuts in the New Year which could be significantly deeper.

‘We still do not have a clear picture of what is happening at EIT yet but it is clear that students are losing courses and staff are losing jobs because of this government funding cut, “said TEU national president Sandra Grey.

ENDS

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