Nga Pu Toru National Training Needs Analysis

7 June 2011: The Department of National Human Resource Development (DNHRD) has contracted Ms Vaine Wichman as technical consultant to review and analyze our national Training Needs.  She is working on this review with the assistance of DNHRD staff member Ms Violet Tisam. The first Training Needs Analysis (TNA) was conducted in 2002, with budget now available for DNHRD to conduct this review.

Although it would have been ideal to review all of the Cook Islands, this would not have been possible given cost constraints such as transport to the islands and additional personnel required to carry out this review.  Therefore a sample survey is the best alternative with the island of Atiu selected to represent the three islands in the Nga Pu Toru group. Ms Wichman and Ms Tisam have recently completed data collection in Atiu during a four day visit to the island on 2-6 June.

Interviews were conducted with representatives from the community who play major roles in the governance, economic, social and political sectors.  Interview questions included:

- Views on existing training services on offer

- To what extend does the existing training meet the needs of the community
- Barriers experienced in accessing training
- Skills gap that exist on the island
- Training needs that they would like to see on offer to help their people.

The responses from this cross section of the community were enthusiastic and data collection method used was met with approval as the one-to-one interviews allowed for opinions not to be influenced. The consolidated results for this TNA will be available towards the end of this month.

The main findings of the 2002 TNA was unanimous support for recognized training with accreditation to the New Zealand Qualification Framework. In response, DNHRD has successfully formed the Association of Cook Islands Tertiary Institute (ACITI) with accreditation to the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA).  Training providers under this association such as HTTC and CITTC are currently delivering courses with NZQA accreditation.  This was made possible with financial support  from New Zealand Aid and the Australia Aid programmes.

Apart from the visit to Atiu, Ms Wichman has recently returned from Rakahanga and Manihiki to conduct these interviews and to gather data that will represent the training needs of the six islands in the Pae Tokerau groups.  Aitutaki will be the last of the outer islands to be visited for the purposes of the TNA.