NZUSA is criticising changes made by NZQA which will make it a little more difficult for people to gain entry to university.
The NZQA’s deputy chief executive (qualifications), Bali Haque, said the changes were not designed to restrict student entry to university, but to ensure the standard was set at an appropriate level for entry in 2015.
“The new requirement, while not a radical change, does raise the bar for university entrance.”
He believed the changes, which stemmed from a periodic review last year, would have a “motivational effect and lift achievement”.
However, a spokesman for the NZ Union of Students’ Associations, Max Hardy, said the requirements followed an “erosion of access to tertiary education” over the past few years and would shut even more people out.
“We are very concerned that students, as a result of this change, who could have done very well at university are being shut out.”
It is possible that some people who didn’t do well at school will, with a little more maturity and focus, succeed at university.
But what’s the point of lowering the entry bar only to have students who haven’t got the required academic ability waste money and time failing?
University isn’t supposed to be easy and getting there shouldn’t be either unless participation rather than success is the aim.
If success in tertiary study is the goal, as it should be, then the requirement for entry should be related to the standard required to succeed once you’re there.
Who is NZUSA working for in opposing this – it ‘s members or its own interests? While student union membership is compulsory anything which increases participation works in NZUSA’s favour but not necessarily in the interests of its members.
Homepaddock 
NZUSA has long held the position that everyone should be able to attend university, for free. It’s not self-interest so much as ideological positioning.
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” It’s not self-interest so much as ideological positioning.”
It could be both and I wonder how many of their members support their position?
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[…] some good news. Homepaddock highlights a piece by the Herald which shows that from 2014, it will be harder to gain entry to University for […]
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NZUSA’s position is that everyone should have access to a level of education right for them. They are not arguing that the standard should be lowered – as you suggest – just that there in not sufficient evidence it needs to be increased.
As is pointed out, most students who are at Uni now but wouldn’t have been with this new standard will complete their qualification. NZUSA argues for strong standards at universities, but also that people who have demonstrated reasonable competency at High School should be given a fair go to try to meet that standard.
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