Reforms of vocational education could be 'diabolical' for apprentices, says business owner

​A Wellington construction business owner says planned changes to the polytechnic and vocation education will have "diabolical" effects.

On Thursday, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced seven key changes in store for apprenticeships and on-the-job training, which included the disestablishment of the country's 16 polytechnics and institutes of technology.

It would include the establishment of four to seven industry-governed Workforce Development Councils which would "replace and expand" Industry Training Organisations (ITOs). Wellington Builders owner Jeff Guerin said that would "cause big problems".

He engaged apprentices through the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO), rather than through polytechnics.

"They're poor quality courses. A lot of the guys coming out if it don't have any work ethic. They come out expecting big dollars and they can't do anything."

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