Kia ora

As it is now over a week since New Zealand’s move to level 4 and lockdown due to Covid-19 coronavirus, we wanted to let you know how we will be supporting your Primary ITO learning.

We hope you are well and coping at this very challenging time.

You will be aware that any off-the-job classes have been postponed but a real benefit of industry training is that learning is on-the-job, earning and learning from your managers and colleagues, supported by Primary ITO. The workplace is your classroom. This means that where you are working in essential businesses, you can still be learning.

If you need any assistance, please get in touch with your training adviser.

What do I need to continue my Primary ITO training?

If you already have training resources

At this stage, with the lockdown only confirmed for four weeks, we will ensure that you can access the training resources you need for the next two months. If the lockdown lasts longer, we will continue to ensure you have what you need.

If you don’t have these, please let your Primary ITO training adviser know and they will be able to look into it for you.

Please keep your paper copies for now and we will be back in contact with how to send them in for assessment.

If you are waiting for training material

Some people are waiting for training materials from us. As our print room is out of action just now, we need to get those to you by email.

We are currently creating digital versions of these (in PDF form). When your Primary ITO training adviser sends you these, they will also be able to give you advice on how to use them

If you have limited internet access or data or are unable to print

For trainees without ability to print or low internet access, the most important thing for us isn’t what piece of paper you complete your training on, it’s what you’ve learned. We can provide you with a simple cover sheet for you to confirm what training you need assessed, and instructions on how to write up or type your assessment.

Also, if you have limited internet access or data, please let us know if you need smaller size files to download.

Online training

The Covid-19 restrictions are also an opportunity for us to look at how we provide training. We are making progress on options for more online approaches, which could include Skype, Zoom, Google Classroom, or others.

We will provide an update when we have more detail.

How will I be assessed?

We want to be able to assess and recognise your learning even when we can’t come out and visit you in the workplace or receive your course work in the mail.

For many people, this isn’t an issue as their assessor is someone working in the same company as them. For others, your Primary ITO training adviser does your assessment. When you have learning ready for assessment, please contact your training adviser and they will be able to let you know how to send your materials to them. As an example, this could be through photographs of the materials taken on your smartphones.

The important thing is we want to make sure you can complete your learning, and we will work with you to make that happen.

We understand that people’s focus is on their health, their families and friends, and their jobs. We want to support you in your learning but completely understand that it might not be the right time for you just now.

If you need any assistance, or just more time, please get in touch with your training adviser.

We will continue to update our website regularly so please keep checking in.

Kia ora anō tātou – best wishes and stay well.

The team at Primary ITO