Labour calls for more resources for PTEs

Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce. Photo /Sarah Ivey

Labour supports measures to lift the standards of private training establishments (PTEs), but says resources need to be provided to ensure it is done effectively.

Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce said yesterday Cabinet had approved changes aimed at providing greater accountability and higher standards in the export education sector.

The changes, to be included in the Education Amendment Bill (No 4) next year, include giving the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) greater powers to monitor, investigate and enforce compliance of PTEs, raising the threshold of registration, and allowing them to keep more money when refunding international students who withdraw from a course.

Labour's tertiary education spokesman, Grant Robertson, said some PTEs were not up to scratch and welcomed the Government's move, as long as it didn't involve simply "tinkering round the edges".

"While there are some high quality PTEs working with international students, there are others who are not meeting standards and a few who are just ripping people off," he said.

"A clear process, with strong regulation, that gives confidence to all students, their families and future employers is necessary."

Mr Robertson said legitimate providers he had spoken to wanted to protect the industry and would support the Government in dealing with the less reputable providers, but said if the NZQA was to be given an increased role in ensuring higher standards were met, it would need a boost in resources and capacity.

- NZPA