Complaints from international students are on the rise despite a drop in the number of overseas people studying in New Zealand.
A Ministry of Education report shows a fifth of schools it audited were not fully compliant with the industry code of conduct relating to welfare, accommodation and grievance procedures.
There were 71 complaints to the International Education Appeal Authority in the 12 months to July, up from 53 the previous year.
However, Education New Zealand, the umbrella industry body for education exporters, says many non-compliance issues surrounding the code of conduct for pastoral care were technical.
Most of the complaints relate to fee refunds, not the level of care in classes or homestays.
It says with enrolment figures of more than 90,000 this year, fewer than one in 1000 students complained.
