By Gurbir Singh, (Hamilton, NZ), 9 Jan., 2018:
New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has cancelled the registration of New Zealand National College (NZNC) as a private training establishment.
In the announcement made yesterday, NZQA has informed that the Universal Education Group Limited, trading as NZNC, can no longer provide the Diploma in Business (Level 7) and other programmes it offered, including education and training in English Studies and Preparation for University Study (Uni Prep).
The Universal Education Group went to High Court arguing that the NZQA's decision was "illegal, predetermined and unreasonable", but the High Court declined to overturn the decision.
NZNC was subject to quality assurance activity by NZQA last year and it identified serious concerns in relation to educational performance and compliance with NZQA rules.
In May last year, NZQA had raised concerns with NZNC about assessment capability in relation to the New Zealand Diplomas in Business (Levels 5 & 6) and National Diplomas in Business (Levels 5 & 6).
As a result, NZQA issued Compliance notices to NZNC requiring provider to stop enrolling new students into these level 5 & 6 Diploma programmes as assessors found that 30 per cent students who passed should have received failed grades.
Now, NZQA has finally cancelled NZNC's registration for providing any more programmes.
Nearly 300 students were affected by this closure, and NZQA is now contacting affected students and working closely with Immigration New Zealand and Public Trust to provide them with necessary support.
NZQA’s role is to ensure that quality education is delivered to students and that New Zealand qualifications are robust, credible, and internationally recognised. Strict quality controls and reviews of all tertiary providers, including private training establishments, are conducted regularly.
Last year, several private training establishments lost their registration for failing on various aspects, including passing failed students.
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Gurbir Singh is a New Zealand-based Freelance Feature Writer & Journalist.
He can be reached at: gurbir@journalist.com and you can like his Facebook page NewsViews