QA News April 2010 - Issue 67
- Chief Executive's foreword
- Course Endorsement to add further motivation for students
- Top Art on tour
- More students gain NCEA endorsed certificates
- Literacy and numeracy standards proposed
- NZ Scholarship results
- Changes to the qualifications system
- TEOs encouraged to do business online
- External reviews of value
- Deregistration a possibility for non-complying PTEs
- Exemplars for internal standards now online
- Best Practice Workshops
- Workshops for teachers and whanau
Deregistration a possibility for non-complying PTEs
NZQA has sent a warning to the PTE sector following the announcement of a second de-registration due to illegal or fraudulent activity on the 29 January.
"NZQA will always look at any allegations made which undermine the veracity of New Zealand’s qualifications. NZQA will not tolerate any illegal or fraudulent activity from any part of the tertiary sector," NZQA Deputy Chief Executive Tim Fowler said.
NZQA initially withdrew the registration of New Zealand Academy of Studies (NZAS) following the Illegal NZ programme that aired on TV2, which led to an investigation into its fraudulent issuing of qualifications.
Subsequently NZQA discovered that City Language Academy (CLAL), a separate Private Training Establishment, had been registered under NZAS's previous director, Tom Lee. Upon investigation, NZQA decided CLAL had broken several of the registration conditions requirements, and was then satisfied on reasonable grounds that CLAL was no longer a suitable body to be registered, and so commenced the cancellation process in October 2009. That cancellation is now complete.
"NZQA is confident that the vast majority of providers are delivering quality education outcomes for students but it is important that the industry is aware that any evidence of inappropriate activity by training establishments will result in strong action by NZQA.
"NZQA would like to encourage everyone in the sector to be vigilant of any misconduct or fraudulent activity. NZQA will work closely with other government agencies such as Immigration New Zealand, Inland Revenue Department, Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education Commission and the Police when required, to ensure a seamless government approach to the issue," Tim said.