Misguided policies undermine part time study

National’s recently released Tertiary Education Policy will penalise tertiary institutions that seek to deliver qualifications to part time students.

“National has effectively branded part time study as inefficient in its drive to provide better value for money,” says Ralph Springett, President of Massey University’s Extramural Students’ Society (EXMSS).

Part time study is often the most efficient manner to gain a qualification. While students who study part time can work and raise a family, they are also much less likely to take out a student loan.

“The idea that part-time study delivers less back to the taxpayer is ridiculous. National’s efficiency is driven entirely by figures and ignores the importance of this type of study for society,” says Mr Springett.

From next year, five per cent of tertiary providers’ tuition funding will be at risk based on their performance against a clear set of achievement indicators such as completion rates. National believes this will incentivise institutions to perform and will drive value for money.

EXMSS believes institutions will shed part time students in order to improve their figures which are weighted to favour full time students.

“It is deceitful for the Government to say it is delivering positive outcomes for students and focusing on course quality,” Mr. Springett says. “While the quality of courses for part time students is no different to full time students, the Government wrongly maintains the outcomes are less positive.

“Students are increasingly feeling the pressure to study part time in order to keep their debt low and get on with life while they are studying. This policy will close those options down,” says Mr. Springett.

ENDS

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