5. TE URUROA FLAVELL (Māori Party—Waiariki) Link to this
to the Minister for Tertiary Education
How many Māori students and Pacific students currently enrolled at a private training establishment would be eligible for equity funding if they attended a university, ITP, or wānanga; and what would be the annual cost of extending equity funding to include Māori students and Pacific students in private training establishments?
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister for Tertiary Education) Link to this
Strictly speaking, the answer to the question is none, because the money is attached to the institution, not to the students. Equity funding is paid for Māori and Pasifika students studying at diploma level, degree level, and post-graduate level. From memory, if we were to extend it to private training establishments, it would increase the budget by a little under half a million dollars.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
When was the decision made to exclude private training establishments from receiving equity funding for Māori and Pasifika students, and what was the rationale behind the decision?
I am sorry, I do not know when the decision was made. I had a look at it when the member put his question down, and I think he raises a good point, although it has to be said it is not a very large point. To give members some idea of the size, I point out that the student achievement funding that would flow to private training establishments if equity funding is included in their mix would go up from about $132.3 million to $132.7 million. So it is a good issue that the member raises, but it cannot be said to be a large one.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Does the Minister have any intention of reviewing the policy of excluding private training establishments from receiving equity funding for Māori and Pasifika students; if so, when; if not, why not?
As a result of the member putting the question down, I had a look at the issue earlier today. I think, as I said, that the member raises a good point, albeit not a large one. The fact that it is quite small does not mean that it should not be looked at. I think we should take a look at it. As private training establishments move into the investment plan process, it may well be that equity funding becomes part of that mix. It is finally the decision of the Tertiary Education Commission, but I will ask officials to take a look at it next week.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Is there any evidence that Māori students and Pasifika students enrolled at private training establishments have less need of Government support compared to Māori students and Pasifika students enrolled at universities, institutes of technology and polytechnics, or wānanga; if so, what is the evidence?
No, I do not think there is. The issue here is that there is a very small number of students studying at the appropriate level in the private training establishment sector who are not getting equity funding. As I said, it is a very small amount of money. The fact that it is a small issue does not mean that it should not be looked at.