Funding is available in 2009 and government’s Budget will contain information about future years.
Embedded literacy and numeracy funding will help meet costs associated with arranging for capability building and for the delivery of industry training with embedded literacy and numeracy. The funding will be distributed through a new investment framework, which will reflect industry complexity and size.
The purposes of the framework are to contribute to the government’s priorities by lifting literacy and numeracy levels for the workforce through:
- preparing ITOs to arrange for the delivery of industry training provision with embedded literacy and numeracy
- build sustainable capability to make arrangements for the delivery of industry training with embedded literacy and numeracy
- build the literacy and numeracy skills of an agreed number of trainees within the funding period (ensuring that this targets underrepresented groups including Maori & Pacific peoples and women).
ITOs currently receiving funding for embedded literacy and numeracy projects
Those ITOs currently receiving funding under the previous framework will need to apply to receive any further funding under the new framework.
The TEC will work with ITOs who are currently receiving funding through Funding Agreements to ensure that all funding forms part of an ITO’s Investment Plan in the future.
Accessing embedded literacy and numeracy funding for ITOS
There are two components of funding that ITOs can apply for:
1. Capability Building Component
2. Trainee Learning Component
Condition ITO007: All Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) receiving Embedded Literacy and Numeracy funding must do all of the following:
- Identify literacy and numeracy skills that are required by trainees with the ITO’s recognised industry.
- Identify and arrange for any changes to the arrangements for industry training that may be necessary in order to include the explicit learning of literacy and numeracy skills that are required by trainees within the ITO’s recognised industry or industries.
- Develop and maintain a robust long-term strategy to increase the amount of industry training with embedded literacy and numeracy that is delivered within the ITO’s recognised industry or industries.
Capability Building Component
Capability Building Component funding should be used for:
- identifying current and future industry literacy and numeracy skill needs
- setting standards and qualifications
- reviewing workbooks and training resources
- arranging for the delivery of training with an industry.
This funding should normally be used as part of a 12 – 18 month project that includes a trainee learning component (see below).
ITOs applying for Capability Building funding need to identify:
- activities that it will be undertaking to increase capability
- a set of performance indicators for the project.
Condition ITO008: Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) receiving funding for the Capability Building Component must:
- Agree to work with the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) to develop organisational capability to arrange for the delivery of industry training with embedded literacy and numeracy.
Trainee Learning Component
Trainee Learning Component funding should be used for:
- supporting industry trainees to improve their literacy, language and numeracy skills in the course of their vocational training
- ensuring trainees achieve measurable gains in literacy and numeracy skills as well as achieving industry qualifications.
This funding should normally be used for a 12 – 18 month project in conjunction with activities associated with the capability building component.
ITOs applying for the Trainee Learning Component need to identify:
- the one or more industry training qualifications that the ITO arranges that include embedded literacy and numeracy
- that the ITO will be ready to have the training programme delivered to an agreed number of trainees initially over a period of at least 9 -12 months, and on an ongoing basis.
Condition ITO009: Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) receiving embedded literacy and numeracy (ELN) funding for the Trainee Learning Component must:
- Engage appropriately qualified and experienced persons or organisations.
- Retain all records of the initial needs analysis, and maintain an overview and summative assessments of all trainees participating in the programme.
- Take part in any evaluation process that may be organised by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).
- Use the funding to best achieve the performance indicators agreed with the TEC.
- Provide reports as required by the TEC that could be used in a variety of publications to raise awareness of literacy and numeracy skills issues and contribute to discussions on good practice.
- Use funding approved for ITO Trainee Learning Component projects for these projects only.
Learner eligibility criteria
Rule ITO010: To be eligible to be a trainee, a person must be a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident of New Zealand, of working age and enrolled in an industry training programme with an Industry Training Organisation.
Monitoring, reporting and record-keeping
The reporting and monitoring requirements for each type of project are set out in the application forms approved by the TEC. It is expected that ITOs will report on the milestones listed in the application forms.
A reporting template will be provided by the TEC.
Condition ITO011: ITOs receiving Embedded Literacy and Numeracy (ELN) funding must keep records that the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) may request from time to time, including:
- Accurate numbers of trainees receiving embedded literacy and numeracy training at any given time.
- Initial needs analysis records.
- Records of training progress, including exit assessments.
- Written consent from trainees to access industry training records.
- Previous qualifications and records on the progress of trainees at levels 1 to 3 on the National Qualifications Framework.
- Any other data for any evaluation that may be organised by the TEC.
- All records that the Industry Training Organisation is required to keep under any Act, in accordance with that Act.
Payments
Payments will be made in instalments agreed between the ITO and the TEC and set out in the Investment Plan update and payment schedule letter.
Other Information
The Literacy and Numeracy assessment tool is being trialled and will be ready for use in 2010. ITOs should submit expressions of interest in order to take part in the trials.
Dates for submitting applications
There are two dates for submitting applications in 2009:
- 12 June 2009, and
- 30 September 2009.
Submitted applications will be considered following each of these dates.
Support for ITOs
The TEC has contracted Workbase to provide professional development services to ITOs so that they have the necessary tools to build capability for embedded literacy and numeracy projects.
The Industry Training Federation (the peak sector body for ITOs) is also contracted by the TEC to support ITOs in a number of ways including developing and disseminating good practice examples and tools, co-ordinating projects across groups of ITOs, and supporting ITOs to develop strategies to respond to literacy and numeracy issues in industries.
Applying for funding
Funding is project-based and decisions are considered outside the Plan approval process. Once agreed, the funding and activities for the successful proposals will be part of an ITO’s Investment Plan.
Applications should be discussed with Investment Managers or Advisors prior to submission.
Please complete both of the application forms below and send the completed forms to the TEC Service Centre.