Confident of more money for polytech
Tairawhiti Polytechnic business development director Glenis Philip-Barbara is “quietly confident” the institution will receive part of an $8 million government boost to cope with forecast enrolment growth next year.
The initiative was announced yesterday as part the $152m Youth Opportunities Package to bolster education and training in New Zealand.
The $8m for “high-performing polytechnics” translates into an additional 700 places for tertiary education providers throughout the country.
Tairawhiti Polytechnic will today be briefed about how much it will benefit from the scheme.
“We haven’t had confirmation yet but we are quietly confident,” Ms Philip-Barbara said.
Education Minister and East Coast MP Anne Tolley said the $8m came from funding previously unspent by the tertiary education sector.
“I have asked the Tertiary Education Commission to work with high-performing institutions to decide how best to invest the money,” she said.
“This will help the sector manage expected growth and help more young people get into meaningful education and training.”