by David Clendon
You might have heard on this story on Morning Report yesterday (text version here) that a standardised entry requirement for all degree level courses could be in place by 2013.
At the moment, university entrance requirements apply to anyone enrolling for a degree at university, while polytechnics and other tertiary institutions are not bound to use UE (though many do).
Of course, if you are over the age of 20, then you have open access to tertiary education regardless of how you did at school.
NZQA, at the Minister’s request, is reviewing university entrance requirements, including whether to scrap the law giving everyone the right to a second chance at higher education once they’re over 20.
The Greens think this law provides an invaluable second chance at education for many people, and shouldn’t be changed.
There are lots of reasons why some people don’t achieve at school or leave early. Some young people are alienated from erducation and can’t wait to get out of the system, others are obliged to enter the work force to support themselves or sometimes their families, some just want to have an adventure.
None of this should prevent them from choosing to come to tertiary education later in life.
Many thousands of people have benefited from this law, using tertiary education to change direction later in life – like me, and my fellow Green MP Metiria Turei. As well as gaining personal benefit, there is a measurable social and economic good from having a more highly educated society.
Changing the free acccess law would make it harder for already disadvantaged groups like Maori and Pacific Island people to access tertiary education, and entrench existing inequalities. Not only would the general principle and practice of ‘lifelong learning’ be compromised, but we would potentially miss out on the contribution that ‘latecomers’ can and do bring to our collective wellbeing.
We think it’s a terrible idea to tamper with the law. If you agree, join this facebook group.
Published in Economy, Work, & Welfare | Parliament | Society & Culture by David Clendon on Tue, April 13th, 2010
Tags: NZQA, polytech, steven joyce, tertiary education, university, university entrance
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on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
For many people the committment to tertiary study is a leap of faith and many take out loans and make life changing actions that effect their whole families to find they were ill prepared and become overwhelmed or drop out. I also have a relationship with our local Teacher’s College Campus and find that we have many potentially great applicants who lack up to date literacy and numeracy skills. They are often accepted because of their potential but then they have an increased workload in both raising their literacy levels at the same time as coping with the demands of the course.
I don’t think there should be restrictions to tertiary study but there does need to be some support or bridging programmes to ensure readiness for working in these environments. If these exist already perhaps they should be advertised more.
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Into every nook and cranny, this National Government, with their cold, bony fingers.
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Why is it that the image of Gollum keeps appearing in my mind, fondling (“with cold, bony fingers”) precious little piles of money…?
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Bearing the One Ring does that to your mind, Sprout. Head for the mountains and mind your fingers!
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People need to be able to write an essay at University no matter what course they take. If they can’t do that then they shouldn’t be allowed to fail- it’s quite simple really
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Thanks for commenting on this. We Polytechnic students are certainly watching this with concern. Here is my press release on the issue:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1004/S00048.htm
Regards,
Rachel Boyack
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I suspect they may be trying to bring in the crap UK system of competive entry.
The way this works is that some institutions have been around longer, have nicer buildings and famous lecturers. They may have poorly designed courses, a lack of facilities and lecturers with no interest in teaching, but because of the *name*, they are able to pick students and set high entry grades.
The former polytech down the road might have better courses and teaching, but because of their lack of ivy-clad heritage, they attract less students and set lower grades.
Thus, a hierarchy is formed with Oxbridge at the top and Luton at the bottom. (like this
Employers (and postgrad programmes) then use this as a proxy for ability and prefer students from the “good research universities”. Which self-perpetuates, because it builds an incentive for students to choose the college which sets the highest standard that they can meet (so if you have three As, you feel obliged to attend an institution that requires that, in order to help your career).
Of course, this helps the privileged rich, who attend schools that cram them for the exams and help them get into the high tier universities. (You can’t believe that Boris Johnson got into Oxford because of his Hawking-like brilliance, for instance).
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Education is a right and the free entry without qulaifications, here at age 20, makes good sense. How else can we raise our literacy as a nation?
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by letting them go to polytech first?
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I think the example of getting life skills before going to university being hindered by the proposed ruling is off becuase the news story talks about up to 20yo’s … there is no mention of changing the entry requirements for over 21yo’s.
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@ jcuknz
The news story actually states that “University entrance” is being reviewed. The right for 20 year olds to attend University without NCEA Level 3 is part of that “University entrance”.
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