Recent Submissions
Recent submissions
In 2006/07 ACE Aotearoa has provided submissions to the TEC on:The Second Tertiary Education Strategy 2007 - 2012
The submission focused on the fact that the proposed TES was incomplete, and too narrow in its focus to provide adequate strategic direction for the next five years. There was particular concern that:
- References to Adult and Community Education (ACE) were completely missing from the draft TES.
- While ACE Aotearoa supports the delivering of research and knowledge that underpins environmental sustainability as a contribution towards economic transformation it was suggested that the TES should make reference to social and cultural sustainability as well. This would meet with the Education Act requirement that the TES address the social and environment contexts and the development aspirations of Maori and other population groups. Again the economic focus is dominating the TES at the expense of a full articulation of the social, cultural and environmental.
- The development of the Maori Education Strategy is not due out until after the completion of the TES which in effect sidelines the importance of the Maori Education strategic plan
An overview of issues in the sector
This submission was in response to a request from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. The strategic alliance sought and collated the sectors views. The submission covered the following issues.- Funding and the funding Framework:(a) The rush to establish a common funding framework and new funding formula is too great and is at risk of being undermined by a hasty and misinformed implementation. The sector would like to work together to produce a well considered view that takes the entire sector into account even if it means slowing down the implementation of the funding framework. (b) The lack of detail about how the funding framework will be implemented is producing anxiety about future funding and making it extremely difficult for organisations to plan ahead. This is impacting on such diverse areas as a reluctance for organisations to employ expensive professionals through to concerns at being close to 2007 with the three year implementation phase about to start but no knowledge of what will occur or whether funding is about to abruptly cease. (c) The proposed funding framework does not fit well with different ACE organisations models of service provision. (d) For those parts of the sector which are bulk-funded, there has been no increase in bulk funding over time and this has resulted in a loss of purchasing power, increasing compliance costs and consequent reduction in services to learners. Bulking funding has not increased and Efts-funding has decreased in volume and value. A formula that links bulk funding to some percentage increase over time would be beneficial
- Quality assurance: (a) There is a general appreciation of the funding provided to assist with the implementation of the Quality Assurance arrangements. (b) . There is general acceptance that the concept of Quality Assurance is beneficial to the sector. (c) There is great concern as to what assistance, if any will be available to assist with ongoing QA development beyond 2007. (d) Workloads have increased as a result of increased compliance requirements, especially for ACE Coordinators
- Professional development strategy. (a) We welcome the governments commitment to funding professional development opportunities for the ACE sector. (b) There is general frustration in the sector at what is seen as slow progress in getting the Professional Development Strategy happening at a grass roots level.
- Other (a) The current processes for funding applications are regarded as time-consuming and outweigh the risks involved and the proportion of funding received. (b) There is concern that ACE is still not on an equal footing with the rest of the Tertiary Education sector. (c) There is a view that government agencies are inclined to micro-manage ACE organisations through various mechanisms, such as contractual agreements and funding applications instead of focusing on achievement of agreed objectives. (d) There are some concerns that the scope for ACE programmes is being narrowed; and with the strong emphasis on programmes with "defined learning outcomes" there is concern that some in TEC may possibly read this statement as being synonymous with "pathways" - to employment or tertiary study.
If you have a policy issue that you would like ACE Aotearoa to know about, please email executive director@aceoatearoa.org.nz