An overcentralised education model will stifle the Otago Polytechnic's responsiveness to regional stakeholders rather than improve it. It's difficult to argue against the need for radical changes in the publicly owned vocational education sector. From my perspective, the most exciting aspect of Education Minister Chris Hipkins' proposals is the integration of the provision of off-job and on-job vocational education. Potentially, if implemented well, this could bring together the best of vocational education in the ITP and ITO sector and build on it further. We will lose the flexibility to develop the innovative partnerships that make good vocational education an enabler for New Zealand's future economic development.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 17, 2019 15:33 UTC