13 Jun 2017

NZNC students fail English test after course closes

5:36 pm on 13 June 2017

More than 140 foreign students are ineligible to continue their studies after they failed an English test and a double-check of their academic achievement, the Qualifications Authority (NZQA) says.

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Photo: 123RF

The students were among more than 400 who were being transferred to a new institution after the New Zealand National College halted its business diploma courses last month because of ongoing quality problems.

Before the transfer could take place, the students' English was tested and the credits they have already been awarded at the college were double-checked.

NZQA deputy chief executive quality assurance Grant Klinkum said the students would learn the outcome of the test and the reassessment of their work this week, but at least 35 percent appeared to be ineligible to continue their studies.

He said the remaining students had been offered a place at the new education provider or were being given the opportunity to provide additional evidence to confirm their eligibility for enrolment.

New Zealand National College (NZNC) stopped offering four business courses at levels 5 and 6 last month after NZQA found evidence of plagiarism and poor marking.

Dr Klinkum said NZQA was still looking at the quality of New Zealand National College's other programmes to identify if further action was warranted.

Those courses included preparation for university study, English language, and a Level 7 business diploma.

"As this process is still underway we are unable to advise of the outcome," he said.

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