Access to qualifications slashed

Just another example of the systematic destruction of tertiary education by the National Government. It started with cutting Student Allowance to post-graduate study (heaven forbid people pursue higher education and open their minds) and just recently, closing ‘loopholes’ for students to access financial assistance to meet their basic living costs. These actions are leading us towards an education system where people will delay studying until they are 24 and no longer assessed on parental circumstances (if at all, because where is the incentive to seek higher education when you are already employed and who can afford to go down to the rate of Student Allowance after being employed?) or where only the children of the rich can afford to study. The cost of a tertiary education has doubled (from experience) in just the last several years, and with low job security post-graduation, where is the payoff and the ability to repay loans?

This is a systematic dumbing down of society, by removing the chances for people to expand their knowledge, horizons and understanding of the world. Without these opportunities, people aren’t equipped to think and be critical of policies, actions and what is happening around them. Limit their ability to expand their minds and they more complicit and easier to control!

This article is misleading. The targetted review of qualifications (TROQ) is not new. It began years ago. You’re right that the number of qualifications will be reduced, but this is because qualifications that are virtually the same are being standardised. The number of places in tertiary study will not reduce dramatically. I haven’t seen the budget, but from what you’ve said here it seems that it might drop a little, which isn’t great, but is quite different to the emotive story you’re trying to present .

It’s concerning that Labour’s spokesperson would have so little understanding of TROQ, given that this process has been a fairly significant piece of the educational landscape over the last 4 years. I recommend you base your press statements on reality & evidence in the future if you want anyone to take you seriously.

Hi David, the link you provide takes you to an NZQA page and talks about a review initiated in 2008 and with the latest update on the webpage being April 2011. Is this the correct link. I think that all qualifications need some periodic review that ensures there currency and relevance to all stakeholders. Tertiary education is very important but it also shouldn’t be a way to keep the youth unemployment numbers down either. Secondary school should be providing our kids with the right general foundations to succeed in life. It is amazing what we have tertiary qualifications for now when people were doing these types of jobs highly successfully before they existed. I don’t disagree with some of the likely sentiment if National are influencing the review but there should be a business as usual approach to this as well.

Let me guess ..the arts qualifications will be in the firing line because they do not result in ‘real’ jobs whilst business studies, agricultural, manufacturing, IT and other ‘practical’ qualifications will flourish. National have already given a broad hint along these lines by encouraging secondary students to look at areas where there is most demand for employment and directing their higher education at those jobs where the demand is greatest.

Typical. Rewarding their rich mates again by ensuring they have “targeted” qualifications so only certain employers will have qualified, highly paid employees, further guaranteeing an even bigger gap between rich n poor for the foreseeable future. Well done Steven Joyce. David, you need to make a lot of noise and bring it to students attention.

If this is policy;then EVERY SINGLE immigrant with a qualification should be prevented entry to NZ…you cannot deny your own people and import immigrants to do their jobs…its outrageous;makes NO SENSE.