3000 students benefit from Government support

MEDIA RELEASE – 18 August 2000

3000 students benefit from Government support

“The Government’s tertiary education funding policy has supported an extra 3,000 students in private training establishments (PTEs) this year,” says Margaret Yates, executive member of the New Zealand Association of Private Education Providers (NZAPEP), referring to a media release by Hon Steve Maharey today (“Modest enrolment increase estimated for 2000”).

PTEs and wananga (Maori public tertiary education institutions) have had their funded enrolments severely restricted in recent years. This is despite the fact that they have clearly met the needs of learners, the community and industry. With the restrictions lifted, enrolments at wananga should grow by 61% this year, with PTE enrolments growing by 31%, compared to a sector average of 3.4%.

“The Ministry of Education’s statistics show that PTEs enrol a higher percentage of Maori and Pacific Islands students than do public providers. So, the growth in PTE enrolments is a tangible contribution to Closing the Gaps. PTEs are helping students get on the ladder of educational achievement, often after unsuccessful experiences in school,” said Margaret Yates

There are about 220 PTEs receiving Government EFTS funding this year. They receive this funding on the same basis as public providers, such as polytechnics, universities, colleges of education and wananga. The principle is that students studying the same course should receive the same subsidy regardless of the institution at which they study.

Contact Margaret Yates on 03 389 5357 (work), 025 360 924 (mobile)

NZAPEP is the largest national association of private training establishments registered with NZQA. Its 100 members enrol about half of the PTE students in New Zealand.

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