How to maintain PTE registration
NZQA actions in response to quality concerns
There are a range of actions NZQA can use in response to a complaint, or an indication a PTE may not be complying with the policies and criteria for PTE registration. This includes failure to meet the requirements of the student fee protection policy.
Such quality concerns may be identified by an external evaluation and review, or other mechanisms such as the Annual Return.
In the first instance, NZQA will initiate an investigation which may be paper-based or involve a focused review. The investigation will seek to identify, in relation to learner outcomes, whether:
- the PTE is adequately self-managing in its compliance and whether there is evidence the PTE addresses non-compliance
- compliance concerns exist that warrant further action
- there is serious non-compliance and/or risk to learners. Indicators might include
failure to supply compliance information, a poor credit/debt ratio indicating
insolvency or severe financial difficulty, insufficient trust funds to meet NZQA's student fee protection policy, students being in real or imminent danger or criminal activity on site.
The NZQA response to any non-compliance will depend on the scope, complexity and
seriousness of the findings and may involve:
- An Action Plan
NZQA and the PTE may negotiate and agree a plan of action to address agreed issues.
- Application of statutory provisions
The range of statutory compliance levers that can be used include:
compliance notices - directed action where compliance is sought by legal means if agreement is not forthcoming or the PTE has a history of failing to meet its obligations.
A compliance notice may also be issued as an immediate response to prevent harm or if the matter is too serious for other courses of action;
placing conditions on PTE registration and/or on course approval and/or accreditation;
withdrawal of one or more course approvals and /or accreditation to deliver the approved course and/or accreditation to assess against standards for the NQF;
withdrawal of registration in the case of ongoing poor educational quality or noncompliance.
Page updated: 05 August 2009