19 Dec 2017

Tertiary institute to cut courses and staff

4:12 pm on 19 December 2017

Taranaki's largest tertiary education provider is cutting six courses and making at least four staff redundant as it grapples with a $2.4 million deficit.

Western Institute of Technology

The Western Institute of Technology is cutting courses. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin

The Western Institute of Technology will not offer any English language and Early Childhood Education courses next year.

The polytech's Diploma in Creative Technology students will be able to complete the final year of the qualification in 2018, but no enrolments are being taken for the level 4 paper.

The chief executive, Barbara George, said Witt is dropping the courses because low demand is making them unviable.

The five arts tutors are still in dicussions about potential job losses while four part-time tutors in other areas have been made redundant.

In February following a comprehensive review, NZQA said it had lost confidence in the quality of education at the polytech and its internal quality-assurance controls.

Student numbers have tumbled at the institute this year. Enrollments fell by 22 percent due to high employment in the area and a downturn in foreign students.

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