Around 200 international students have now become “first priority” for the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, after it deregistered their education provider.

“‘NZQA will not tolerate poor quality education provision. Where providers are not meeting the standards we expect of them we take action”

Aotearoa Tertiary Institute, which offered the NZIM Diploma in management and New Zealand Diploma in business, was deregistered after an investigation by NZQA, leaving its predominantly Indian students affected and now seeking alternate options to complete their studies.

In a statement, Grant Klinkum, deputy chief executive quality assurance, said “it was very disappointing that ATI had failed to meet the standards required of a registered training provider.

“‘NZQA will not tolerate poor quality education provision. Where providers are not meeting the standards we expect of them we take action to ensure system integrity,” he said.

Reasons cited for ATI’s deregistration include violations to the provision of suitable premises for the number of students enrolled, staff competency, managing student attendance, keeping adequate records of student enrolment and achievement, and implementing its own quality management system.

Klinkum said NZQA is now working with a “high quality tertiary education organisation who will provide a full package of learning and support for ATI students”.

John Goulter, acting chief executive of Education New Zealand, told The PIE News his organisation is assisting NZQA “to ensure the impact on affected students is minimised and they can continue with their studies if they choose to do so”.

“More than 25,000 Indian students studied in New Zealand in 2016 and the vast majority have a very positive experience,” he said.

ATI’s deregistration comes after a 2016 case in which another PTE, International Academy of New Zealand, was sold while under investigation by NZQA for standard periodic monitoring and allegations of poor practice.