Qualification Mess Estimated To Cost NZ $200m

Qualification Mess Estimated To Cost NZ $200m Forex

“The developing mess over the NCEA will devastate the market for overseas students in State secondary schools over the next three years, costing New Zealand over $200m,” said Concerned Teachers spokesperson Peter Calvert. Mr Calvert was commenting on a statement by Gerry Brownlee, National spokesperson for Education.

“Currently there are over 7,000 mainly Asian students in our secondary schools who pay fees of over $60m. Add in living expenses of $100m and the downstream costs and the total impact is over $200m,” said Mr Calvert.

“This is over a quarter of the total amount raised from international education of $710m ,” said Mr Calvert.

“Students will not pay an average $8,000 to come to New Zealand to gain a school qualification that is not acceptable internationally. Currently School Certificate and Bursary qualifications are held in high regard by overseas students. Asian students do well on average and like the way assessment is done under the current system where percentage marks show how students have done relative to their peers,” said Mr Calvert.

“The Education New Zealand website does not as yet inform students that they will be facing an experimental qualification the NCEA over the next three years if they commence in the fifth form in 2002,” said Mr Calvert.

“Recent strong criticism of the NCEA by Mr Brownlee, academics, and groups will get stronger as the '‘trade fair season' ’for overseas students begins next month. Schools asking Asian students to come to New Zealand to study for a ‘dumbed down’ qualification will sound like the British Government imploring tourists to come to Britain while the foot and mouth disease si rampant,“ said Mr Calvert.

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For More information contact: Peter Calvert 021 2111 825 E-mail ConcernedTeachers@xtra.co.nz Website www.concernedteachers.com

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