Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Students' Support Calls to Review UE Changes

Students' Support Calls to Review UE Changes

This morning the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) has joined the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) in calling for an urgent review of University Entrance (UE) requirements after a significant drop in numbers of school leavers gaining the qualification was announced.

VUWSA President Rick Zwaan shared the same concerns as Universities New Zealand that the level of decrease was surprising.

“It’s very concerning that the drastic changes to UE that the government made last year have severely restricted the number of school leavers who will be able to go to university and gain a qualification.”

Only 58.3% of year 13 students achieved university entrance last year, compared to 71% in 2013 and the lowest since 2004, when the current UE was introduced.

“While VUWSA believes that entrance to university should be granted on the basis of academic merit, these changes have already significantly restricted the potential of students to succeed in a tertiary setting, and in a future chosen occupation.”

VUWSA Academic Vice President, Jonathan Gee, notes that “many students who struggle or do not succeed in the NCEA type of assessment actually strive in a university environment.

“The significant drop in those gaining UE means that many of these students will be excluded from higher education and restricted from a number of careers options ” says Gee.

Zwaan says that NZQA and universities need to step up their support for students

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“We should be doing more to support students to succeed at university rather than restricting them from attending in the first place.

The new requirements and the associated drop in numbers show that we are losing potential bright minds at university.

“Forcing students who just miss out on UE to do bridging courses only increases the already high level of debt that they will graduate with.

“An urgent review is needed in ensure that young kiwi minds are realising their full potential and not being turned away from university just because of a specific technical requirement” concludes Zwaan.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.