Stop Setting People up to Fail
The Aotearoa Tertiary Students' Association (ATSA) believes that public and private tertiary providers have a moral and
ethical responsibility to not enrol students who do not reach the academic entry level required. These are the students
most likely to fail or drop out.
People intending to begin study in 2003 are now enrolling at institutions, and applying for student loans. “For too long
students have been treated as a cash crop by many providers,” said Julie Pettett, ATSA President. “There is little doubt
that this cash mentality has contributed to poor retention and pass rates for many students in the past.”
“The government should be aware by now that the tertiary education system must move away from the market-driven ‘bums on
seat’ EFTS funding system that has failed students for over a decade,” Pettett stated. “There is no excuse for any
provider to allow a student to start a course they have little or no hope of finishing.”
“Costs for students who fail are huge, not only in terms of the student loan they are likely to incur, but also in the
loss of self esteem that is often an inevitable result of academic failure,” said Pettett. “Sadly, as long as the
EFTS-based funding regime remains, the temptation for unscrupulous providers to enrol anyone is high.”