From July 2009, the revised purchasing framework for Workplace Literacy funding takes effect.
There are also changes to the funding requirements and an increased focus on TEOs engaging with business and providing explicit business, and literacy and numeracy outcomes from their Workplace Literacy funding.
The main changes for TEOs include:
- A single opportunity to seek funding for the remainder of 2009 and 2010. This round closes on 12 August 2009.
- There will now be a single application process and TEO programmes will be funded at a fixed rate per employee. There will not be a needs analysis (part A) and programme (part B) application.
- The TEC will no longer be accepting individual applications from TEOs to work with particular employers. Applications will be for an overall TEO-managed workplace literacy programme, not small individual projects.
- There will be a requirement for a minimum of 50 employees to receive tuition. This requirement will be in place for TEOs and employers.
The Adult Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Tool will be available for use during 2010. To access it, participating employees will be required to have a National Student Number (NSN). The TEC will require employee NSNs to be reported for monitoring purposes once the Adult Literacy and Numeracy tool is availalbe.
TEOs that have a current ESAA login may need to apply to the Ministry of Education to include the access to the National Student Index. The TEC will provide additional information to support these processes.
TEOs wishing to access Workplace Literacy funding for the remainder of 2009 and the 2010 calendar year must submit an application by 5pm 12 August 2009.
This will be the only opportunity for TEOs to seek Workplace Literacy funding for the rest of 2009 up to 31 December 2010 (subject to appropriation). TEOs must deliver to a minimum of 50 employees during this period.
Requirements for organisations
TEOs eligible for Workplace Literacy funding must be an NZQA or ITPQ registered education provider.
TEOs must demonstrate:
- a history of successfully engaging with employers
- the capability and capacity to deliver to a minimum of 50 employees in the contracted period (Sept/August 2009 – December 2010)
- a commitment to achieving literacy and numeracy outcomes for employees. This includes having staff with appropriate qualifications and experience in teaching literacy and numeracy to adults in a workplace setting, participating in appropriate professional development and building internal capability to deliver high quality literacy and numeracy provision, and
- a high standard of performance against previous literacy and numeracy commitments in the workplace.
Other organisational requirements
TEOs must also have:
- established systems for managing record keeping, relationships, assessment, complaints and reporting
- sufficient capacity relative to the size of the programme
- an understanding of the literacy and numeracy demands of the industry and workplace
- an ability to understand and address the broader workplace context that influences literacy and numeracy (for example, the suitability of workplace documentation, culture and processes)
- a process for using the following to develop coherent and planned learning programmes which are tailored to the particular workplace and individual employees:
- an assessment which identifies the workplace literacy and numeracy requirements
- the results of the employees’ diagnostic assessment, and
- the learning progressions.
Requirements for a Workplace Literacy programme
The TEC expects TEOs to demonstrate that their programme will:
- improve the literacy and numeracy skills of employees in named companies
- complete a workplace literacy and numeracy analysis for each business
- develop a customised literacy and numeracy learning programme which provides a structured programme of learning of at least 40 contact hours over a period of 10 to 40 weeks
- use appropriately qualified and experienced literacy and numeracy tutors
- use formal assessment to measure employees’ literacy and numeracy gain
- maintain auditable records of employee participation and learning gain
- agree explicit business outcomes linked to the programme with each business, and report progress to the business on these which the TEC may audit
- work with individual employees for a maximum of one year, and a maximum of two years (two cohorts of employees) in any one business, and
- ensure the business has sufficient commitment and expertise, where viable, to continue contributing to raising employees literacy and numeracy skills at the conclusion of the programme after the TEO exits.
TEOs will be able to work with individual employees for a maximum of one year, and work with individual businesses for a maximum of two years.
Requirements for employees
Eligible employees must:
- be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents
- not be full-time students
- not be accessing Industry Training Organisation Embedded Literacy and Numeracy Project or Workplace Employee Targeted funding
- be employed in the paid workforce, and
- participate voluntarily.
Literacy and numeracy programmes offered through Workplace Literacy should be targeted towards employees with no or low qualifications or low literacy and numeracy skills, and must be provided free to the employees.
Funding information
Funding will be allocated at a fixed price of $3,700 (GST exclusive) per employee and tuition can be with individual employees or in small groups.
Funding will need to meet the costs of all initial brokerage with employers, the workplace assessment, developing and delivering the programme, learning assessment, reporting (including reporting to the business) and developing the ongoing business commitment.
Submitting an application
There will be one funding round for TEOs in 2009 for funding up to 31 December 2010 and completed proposals must be emailed to the Service Centre mailbox before 5pm 12 August 2009.
TEOs must email completed proposals to the Service Centre mailbox as per the following instructions.
- Completed applications and any accompanying evidence must be emailed in PDF format to servicecentre@tec.govt.nz.
- Please ensure that the email subject line contains: 2009/2010 Workplace Literacy Funding Application for TEOs.
- Applications not submitted on the form provided by the TEC or received after 5pm 12 August 2009 will not be considered.
- TEOs will have the right of review on any funding decisions as set out in the TEC Right of Review process.
Timeline for 2009
Applications due to the TEC Service Centre – 5pm 12 August 2009.
Decisions on applications made and funding allocations communicated to TEOs – early September 2009
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