Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Polytechs may have to turn students away

Updated at 3:01 pm on 22 January 2011

Polytechnics say their enrolments are so high they are likely to turn prospective students away again later this year.

NZ Institutes of Technology & Polytechnics, which represents 12 of the 18 polytechnics, says enrolments at some of its members are 10% higher than last year.

James Buwalda says polytechnics have funding for about 450 more students than last year, but the increase is unlikely to keep up with demand.

He says it is likely some polytechnics will have to close their enrolments, as happened last year, and some students will miss out.

Dr Buwalda says enrolments are particularly strong in programmes such as nursing, engineering and IT.

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