Ed. on Bill: Tertiary Education and Other Matters

Ed. on Bill: Tertiary Education and Other Matters

Friday, 17 February

Media Release: Ed. Collective

Ed. Collective, a social enterprise advocating for better learning experiences in New Zealand, has welcomed the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill introduced last week.

Ed. Collective Executive Spokesperson, Claire Hewitt said there were some places where the Bill would positively impact the lives of New Zealand learners.

“This Bill aligns refund entitlements for domestic students enrolled at a private training establishment (PTE) with those of international students. It is encouraging to see the interests of these Kiwi students given parity in this part of their journey.”

“Export Education has become a significant revenue stream for New Zealand and is bringing in millions of dollars to our economy. Ed. Collective believes that benefits should be passed on to our own learners, so giving local students equality in this particular process is positive.”

“Furthermore, we are pleased to see more rigour for tertiary education institutes around the reporting of government funding, and for it to be viewed by the TEC. In Ed. Collective’s opinion, increased transparency means increased accountability, and ultimately this will provide more information and choice to learners.”

While Ed. Collective is pleased with the aims of the amendment, it cautions that New Zealand has a long way to go in providing its learners with a foundation for the future that is well balanced against the debt they incur.

Last year Ed. Collective made learner-centric recommendations to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into new models of tertiary education. Ed. hopes these will be addressed with urgency. For instance, will students be able to transfer between institutes or courses without academic penalty? Will degrees be more flexible to allow students better opportunities for work?

“While every bit of progress is welcome, our education system is still based on one set up for the 19thCentury. Both new thinking and smart investment are going to be needed to ensure our learners are equipped to thrive in the twenty-first century.”

About

Ed. Collective: Standing Up for learners in New Zealand and lying in on Sundays.

At Ed. Collective, our vision for the future of education is one of great learning experiences and strong learner communities.

Simply put, Ed. is a mate for learners. We care about their challenges and their big dreams. We listen, research and find game-changing insights for education. If you’re a learner, Ed. will go to bat for you. Ed. is that kind of mate. Find out more at www.edcollective.org.nz

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