Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

Labour will therefore reinstate the Refugee and Migrant Study Grants, both worth $1
million per annum.
Labour will also allocate additional funding for English for Speakers of Other
Languages (ESOL) provision to enable all refugees and migrants to achieve a good
level of English literacy.
Private Training Establishments
Labour acknowledges and supports the role that quality private training establishments
(PTEs) can play in the provision of tertiary education. Public institutions cannot always meet
the needs of particular students or groups of students, and often PTEs can respond more
flexibly to these needs.
We are concerned about poor quality programmes and courses that are provided by some
private training establishments that undermine the reputation of many excellent PTEs.
Importantly, the dubious activities of a few risk damaging New Zealand‟s reputation
internationally and have profound impacts on the international education industry.
Labour will continue to support PTEs where they are providing quality programmes
that are meeting skill, training or education needs.
Labour will work with the PTE sector to develop more rigorous quality assurance
measures, particularly in relation to courses targeted at international students.
Labour will work to increase collaboration between PTEs, Industry Training
Organisations and our public tertiary institutions towards meeting the needs of
employers and the future workforce.
Teacher education
Over recent years teacher education has been absorbed into university settings. This has
enhanced linkages with research and academic disciplines and provided significant cost
efficiencies.
However, there are concerns about the quality of teacher education, the amount of contact
time that trainees have with teaching specialists and whether there has been a loss of focus
on teaching practice.
Labour will consider the recommendations of the recent review of initial teacher
training for implementation.
Teacher shortages exist in some more challenging, usually decile 1 and 2 or rural schools,
while other schools are spoiled for choice. Labour proposes to examine incentives to
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