'Worthless' degree course delayed after complaints

Rotorua's Waiariki Institute of Technology has delayed the start of a degree course next year after an investigation into its quality.

Four students studying the first year of the Bachelor of Applied Social Sciences say they each spent $5000 on the degree this year -- but fear the qualification will be worthless.

Waiariki chief executive Reynold Mcpherson said that the first year of the degree will not start until the second term next year.

The latest claims follow a series of complaints by Waiariki students over recent weeks.

A group of students sitting the Certificate in Healthcare Assistants course has lodged a formal complaint about the quality of their course.

Two weeks ago, Waiariki reached a compromise with students who complained about a course for enrolled nurses.

The latest group of students, who did not want to be identified, say they have made numerous complaints to Waiariki and ITP Quality -- a national organisation monitoring course quality.

They called for the degree to be shut down.

Their complaints include claims of verbal abuse by staff, poor teaching quality, tutors arriving late to class, and not having a tutor for 15 days this year.

They say one tutor had not heard of one of the Child, Youth and Family agency.

Students say they have seen a report by an independent assessor outlining "serious failures" of the degree.

One student said the course was "nothing but a farce" and three others say they intend to pull out at the end of the year.

ITP Quality director Peter Scanlan confirmed an independent report was carried out earlier this year.

ITP Quality had received complaints from students sitting all levels of the degree and a panel of six people had been to Waiariki and talked to students over their concerns.

Mr Scanlan said the organisation had sent a draft report to the institute and intended to sign off its final report next week.

The report would include several recommendations Waiariki would be expected to address.

Head of social sciences and education Elizabeth Pakai and programme leader Maramena Udy said yesterday they did not believe the teaching was below standard.

They accepted there had been about 15 days when students did not have a tutor, but students were provided with self-directed study.

Ms Udy said she was surprised at the students' claims of verbal abuse and would have expected such a serious claim to be part of a formal complaint.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)