Ralph Springett & Dave Crampton: Govt keeps distance from educational need

Approximately 80 per cent of Massey University's 17,000 distance students are over 25, contributing to the workplace and to society while they are studying. Photo / Supplied

Concern is growing among so-called distance students, providers of distance education, and Maori.

It is that the priorities of the Government's Tertiary Education Strategy do not address the societal need, particularly for women, for accessible second chance education opportunities.

Neither do they recognise the benefits of study while working. Equally alarming is the impact on our young students who are expected to commit to a specific area of study and a student loan at the age of 17.

The Tertiary Education Commission's strategy describes the Government's strategic direction and investment priorities for tertiary education over the next five years.

Current priorities for tertiary institutions are to enroll a greater number of Maori, Pasifika, and youth, who are expected to complete degrees in three to four years.

Higher education levels have been linked to better general wellbeing, better health and greater social mobility.

They are also positively associated with work income, employment rates, incidence of smoking, obesity rates, volunteering, tolerance of cultural differences, household recycling and overall satisfaction with life.

There is also a growing understanding that our workforce will require upskilling in order to remain productive throughout their working lives.

Approximately 80 per cent of Massey University's 17,000 distance students are over 25. Two-thirds are women, many of whom are in part-time and fulltime employment.

Furthermore, a third of Maori students study by distance. Distance study suits these people because they are able to work, attend to family matters, and upskill.

Clearly there are benefits in providing educational opportunities for all sectors of our society. So the question appears to be one of cost.

The Government has stated that efficiency is required in the tertiary sector. That efficiency relates to completing a qualification. However, as distance students have competing interests and predominantly study part-time, they take longer to complete. In fact, not all distance students manage to complete qualifications.

Some upskill to satisfy employment needs, taking one or two papers/modules only.

As those who complete qualifications take longer than fulltime students, they may be categorised as a non-completion statistic by the Tertiary Education Commission.

Therefore, as the current focus is on completing qualifications, distance study is not a priority for institutions as they strive to avoid appearing at the bottom of the new league tables.

The mechanisms that have led to gains in access, such as open entry for adults, are the same levers shown to be risk factors for completions. Yet reducing access to higher education may not lead to the efficiencies the Government seeks.

While the focus of the Government's strategy is on youth, it is notable that with part-time study, older students do better than younger students.

The strategy is flawed and must be changed. Completion is not an accurate measure of efficiency. Distance students contribute to the workplace and to society while they are studying.

They have an 80 per cent lower student loan uptake than fulltime internal youth and have made their course choices based on work and life experience.

Neither should the impact on our young internal students be ignored. We are asking our brightest, at age 17, to decide what career they would like and to commit to borrowing an average of almost $30,000 to get there.

In many cases this will be a debt based on a promise of work that they have no clear concept of.

In a major survey of students conducted by the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations this year, more than 70 per cent of students thought their student loan would impact on their ability to buy a house. Almost half said it would impact on their decision to have children.

This debt is the key factor that drives young graduates overseas.

In a capped environment the present emphasis on young students will reduce access for many looking for a second chance at education.

These people, predominantly women, deserve equitable access. They do not cost more to educate and are making smart education choices born of experience.

The Government has failed in its responsibility to deliver a strategy for tertiary education that takes New Zealand to a better place. There is no efficiency in the priorities of the Tertiary Education Strategy and it appears socially unjust. Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce should listen to stakeholders and review the settings so that capable people do not miss out on the chance to learn.

Ralph Springett is president of the Massey Extramural Students Society and Dave Crampton is its vice-president.