Probe into school's diplomas

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A school for international students will be investigated for supplying reference letters and report cards for work done at another school.

Tasman International Academies provided glowing testimonials for two Korean students who initially failed their design diplomas at API Institute of Education in 2009.

In May last year, the students visited Tasman, which had taken over the course from API. They paid $1000 each, made changes to their failed projects under a tutor's supervision and received certificates saying they had passed the course at Tasman.

The school also gave reference letters and report cards with pass marks and enthusiastic teacher comments.

Tasman principal Dene Collison defended the comments, saying the school's design tutor, Louise Brosnan, had worked at API, although she had not taught the two Korean students.

But Employers and Manufacturers Association advisory services manager David Lowe said training organisations should not present academic records from elsewhere as their own, especially when fail grades had changed into passes.

NZ Qualifications Authority deputy chief of quality assurance Tim Fowler said NZQA would investigate.