EDUCATION AND SCIENCE COMMITTEE

MEDIA RELEASE – 20 May 2002

Select Committee Reports On Tertiary Education Reform Bill

The Education and Science Committee has reported on the Tertiary Education Reform Bill. The committee recommends, by majority, that the bill be passed with amendments.

Recommended amendments to the bill include:

 Consultation is required during the development of the tertiary education strategy.
 The tertiary education strategy must address the economic, social and environmental context, and the development aspirations of Māori and other population groups.
 Additional functions are set out for the Tertiary Education Commission, including:
 Providing advice to the Minister on the activities and performance of the tertiary education sector generally.
 Monitoring the performance of organisations against their profiles for the purpose of assessing overall achievement in the sector.
 Applied research.
 The need for the Commission to obtain the Minister’s agreement before undertaking other functions is removed.
 The Minister’s power to direct the Commission is limited by a requirement for directions to be consistent with the tertiary education strategy and the functions of the Commission.
 A requirement is added for the Minister to have regard to the Commission’s breadth of experience and expertise and depth of knowledge when appointing members.
 The Minister’s power to remove a Commission member is adjusted.
 The Commission, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and Career Services are required to have regard to the tertiary education strategy.
 It is clarified that the Commission, in carrying out its regulatory functions, is not engaged in trade for the purposes of section 6 of the Commerce Act 1986.
 The definition of ‘stakeholder’ is omitted, so that the meaning of the term is determined by its context in the bill as appropriate for each organisation.
 The New Zealand Qualifications Authority is empowered to issue notices to providers imposing restrictions or requiring urgent action to address breaches of conditions.
 A shortened process is set out for the Authority to impose further conditions, cancel a provider’s registration or withdraw accreditation or course approval if the provider does not comply with a notice.
 The amendments set out in Supplementary Order Paper No 264 are adopted with amendments, so provision is made for an export education levy.
The report will shortly be available through Bennetts Government Bookshops, and may be viewed on the Office of the Clerk website:

(www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/content/733/180bar2.pdf).

ENDS

Members of the Education and Science Committee are:

Liz Gordon, Chairperson, Alliance
Helen Duncan, Deputy Chairperson, Labour
Donna Awatere Huata, ACT
Hon Brian Donnelly, New Zealand First
Nanaia Mahuta, Labour
Hon Dr Nick Smith, National
Hon Tariana Turia, Labour
Hon Maurice Williamson, National

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