This year the New Zealand Army joined the government’s literacy, language and numeracy Upskilling Partnership Programme to enhance its soldiers’ development and provide more fulfilling career paths.
The Commanding Officer of the Army’s Military Studies Institute, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Taylor, says many of the Army’s new recruits reflect the characteristics of the wider workforce, including having poor literacy and numeracy skills that could stop them from achieving their full potential.
“The upskilling partnership will help us to identify the literacy skills of all of our soldiers, and target specific training to address any individual skill shortages that are identified.
“By committing to this programme, the Army is ensuring that its junior soldiers are given the foundation skills they require for personal development and career progression,” Lieutenant Colonel Taylor said.
Under the Upskilling Partnership Programme, the New Zealand Army will use Skills Check, a testing tool adapted by the Ministry of Education for New Zealand employers, to conduct diagnostic testing of all new recruits and junior soldiers.
The results of these tests will be used by Army Education Corps personnel to develop remedial programmes where required, so that every soldier is able to meet the range of literacy challenges he or she encounters. These programmes may include formal instruction, one-on-one tuition, and working in small groups.
The Upskilling Partnership Programme is a multi agency initiative led by the Department of Labour to assist and encourage employers to create training programmes to improve the literacy, language and numeracy skills of people in the workforce.
The Manukau Institute of Technology is the tertiary education partner in this programme. “As a specialist in applied and vocational training, MIT welcomes the opportunity to deliver this programme in the context of Army training and life,” said Dr Stuart Middleton, Director of External Relations at MIT.