Tech explains its 'free' computer plan

Northland Polytechnic is denying claims that it is luring students with free computers.

National Party education spokesman Bill English says the computers are an "inducement" to attract students, something that is prohibited by Tertiary Education Commission rule.

Mr English said that by allowing the polytechnic to provide the computers, the commission showed it was "too weak to enforce its own rules".

But Northland Polytechnic chief executive Terry Barnett said the polytech had done nothing wrong.

It leased the computers and loaned them to eligible students while enrolled on the course, which started at the beginning of this month.

He said Northland Polytechnic had kept the Tertiary Education Commission informed about the scheme.

He said the one-year, home-based, free on-line course was shaping up to be the polytech's most popular ever.

Tertiary Education Commission general manager Ann Clark said Northland Polytechnic had told the commission that it did not give free computers to students, and that no taxpayers' money was involved in the supply of the computers.

- NZPA