Focus on clear secondary-tertiary pathways

As part of the Tertiary Education Strategy 2025 – 2030, the Government will seek to strengthen secondary-tertiary pathways and build partnerships between universities and schools. 

These actions are listed under “access and participation”, one of the five priorities outlined in the document. Improving access to tertiary education and training for all groups is “essential to building a more productive, equitable, and inclusive economy,” reads the strategy. It goes on to say that though all groups should be able to access tertiary education in principle, in practice many groups face barriers to participation, which limits their ability to participate fully in the economy and in turn lowers our productivity. The strategy also notes that there has been a decline in tertiary education participation among school-leavers. 

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“The challenge is not only to widen access, but also to ensure that people can participate in ways that suit their life circumstances and work arrangements – through flexible study options and clear pathways,” reads the document.  

Over the next five years, there will be a focus on strengthening secondary-tertiary pathways for vocational education, and for young people who may not be in education or employment. The strategy also calls for partnerships to be developed between schools and universities to smooth transitions from secondary to higher education.   

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Currently, about 60,000 people leave school each year. Just under a third enter university, 13 percent enroll in a polytechnic, 10 percent in private tertiary training, and only six percent take on an apprenticeship. About 17 to 20 percent will be classified as not in education, employment or training (NEET). Strengthening secondary-tertiary partnerships and creating clearer pathways will aim to address NEET numbers, according to the new strategy.  

The new strategy was announced by ministers Shane Reti and Penny Simmonds in early December and outlines a plan for New Zealand’s tertiary sector which supports the government’s “going for growth” directive. Education is highlighted as a key driver of New Zealand’s economic recovery.  

“This Government is putting results at the centre. This new Tertiary Education Strategy is about developing the workforce New Zealand needs to grow and delivering research and innovation that create real value for our communities and our economy,” said Dr Shane Reti.  

Industry Skills Boards formally established  

Eight new Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) were also formally established to coincide with the release of the new Tertiary Education Strategy, as part of the vocational education and training reforms.  

Earlier this year, it was announced that some secondary school subjects would become “vocational” subjects, with these pathways including a mix of workplace and classroom training. This will create a dual-pathway system, with ISBs overseeing the curricula for these vocational subjects.  

Currently, around 250,000 learners engage with the vocational education and training pathways each year.  

Related School News article: Building real-world skills at Kamo High School Trades Academy – SchoolNews – New Zealand

The eight ISBs will replace six Workforce Development Councils, and are meant to give industries a stronger voice in the education sector. ISBs will be responsible for setting and maintaining standards, endorsing education programmes, advising on priorities for workforce development, and overseeing collaboration between employers and education providers.  

The ISBs will also manage work-based learning while the sector transitions from the disestablished Te Pūkenga (now renamed the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology) to an industry-led training system through 2026 to the end of 2027. 

Chief Executives have been ministerially-appointed for each board, and some staff have been transferred from the Workforce Development Councils to enable the ISBs to be operational from January 1, 2026. 

The eight new boards are:  

• Transport 
• Electrotechnology and Information Technology  
• Education, Health and Community  
• Energy and Infrastructure 
• Manufacturing and Engineering 
• Services  
• Food and fibre  
• Construction and Specialist Trades 

Related School News article: NCEA isn’t perfect but NZ shouldn’t forget why it was introduced in the first place – SchoolNews – New Zealand