Overhauling the vocational training system is a chance to build something that works for farmers and makes farming “sexy again”, Toby Williams says.
The Government has decided to disestablish Te Pūkenga, the organisation responsible for vocational education and training across New Zealand.
This follows concerns that the system hasn’t been delivering for key industries like farming.
Williams, Federated Farmers education spokesperson, says the agricultural sector desperately needs the Government to get it right.
“We’ve really lacked good training and education for young people coming into farming over the past decade. The whole thing needs a reset,” Williams says.
“The Government’s reform is a great opportunity to create something that serves farmers and the wider agricultural sector much, much better.
“Both farm employers and young people entering the industry have suffered because of the current broken model.”
Williams says farmers are an ageing population and new blood is needed.
“We really need to find a way of making this whole industry sexy again, and providing high-quality education is a big part of that.
“If we can set up a training system that gives young farmers an amazing experience, with lots of hands-on learning, that’ll help draw them in and keep them on our farms.”
Federated Farmers has made a number of recommendations to the Government, one of them being that experienced farmers are heavily involved in the design and review of course content.
“What we’ve seen is all these people appointed into high-up positions making decisions about farm training, but they have no practical farming experience,” Williams says.
“As we set up a new system, we need farmers or ex-farmers up there at the highest levels to ensure the training works on the ground.”
Training must also prioritise practical, hands-on learning over theoretical learning, Williams says.
“Training in recent years has become way too book-heavy. That just doesn’t work because most farmers prefer learning on the job.
“It’s ok if they need to go off-farm occasionally for some of their training, but it should be in small groups with other young local farmers, and it shouldn’t be for lengthy periods.
“Experience shows us that if you try to get these kids to go and do classwork off the farm for a week, some just won’t show up.”
Federated Farmers also supports the use of micro-credentials.
“We’d like to see young farmers doing lots of little learning modules that help them gain the specific skills they need,” Williams says.
“Dairy, sheep and beef, and arable are all different to each other, so the modules need to be specific to each one.”
Federated Farmers is calling for a system that helps farmers easily identify which training providers are delivering the best results.
“This kind of system would allow the top ITOs (Industry Training Organisations) to build strong reputations for quality and practical education,” Williams says.
“By recognising those who consistently perform well, it’ll be clear to farmers which providers are worth their time, and others will be motivated to raise their standards to earn the same level of trust and respect.”
Excellent pastoral care must also be central to agricultural training programmes, William says.
“It’s very common for us to have 15- or 16-year-old kids leaving home for the first time to go and work on a farm.
“We need to make sure these young people are wrapped in great support and looked after, so they have a very positive experience, or they’ll leave farming and never come back.
“Kids also need to have a way of reporting back to the people in charge about how they’re feeling, so there’s a really good monitoring system in place.”
Williams is also concerned the farmers’ voice, and advice from the wider primary sector, could be ignored in the submission process.
“The vocational education and training system covers a vast array of industries, so we have concerns around how well this will land for farming.
“All the other industries have similar issues with attracting and retaining talent, so I just hope we don’t get lost in this process.
“On the flipside, if this is done well, we could end up with a model that sets young farmers up to flourish, which is an exciting thought.
“This is our chance to get it right – we won’t have another one for a long time.”
Submissions on the vocational education and training reform closed on September 12.
Federated Farmers, New Zealand’s leading independent rural advocacy organisation, has established a news and insights partnership with AgriHQ, the country’s leading rural publisher, to give the farmers of New Zealand a more informed, united and stronger voice. Federated Farmers news and commentary appears each week in its own section of the Farmers Weekly print edition and online.
In Focus Podcast | Speaking up for farmers since 1899
Federated Farmers turns 125 this year and president Wayne Langford joins Bryan to reflect on the past century and a bit. Following a recent restructure Wayne says Feds is ready for its next challenge as it works to ensure farmer voices are heard.
