$51.6 million allocated to support the New Zealand international education sector
The Minister of Education announced on 27 July that the government will invest $51.6 million to help stabilise New Zealand’s international education sector through its long-term recovery plan.
- $20 million will be allocated to state and state-integrated schools to keep international specialists employed in teaching and providing pastoral care to international students
- $10 million will be allocated to Private Training Establishments (PTEs) including English language schools
- $10 million will be spent to develop new future-focused products and services, including allowing students to study from their home country
- $6.6 million will be spent on pastoral care and other activities for international students
- $3 million will be allocated for market activities to keep promoting New Zealand’s education brand, etc
- $1.5 million will be allocated to English language schools to deliver English language training to migrants
- $500K will be allocated to ensure the quality of New Zealand education being delivered offshore and to strengthen the quality assurance process.
Some further highlights of the Minister’s announcement include:
- Universities will not be allocated funds since they are financially doing well.
- Education providers should not expect to bring in students from overseas this year.
- The Government will be looking at bringing in low-risk cohorts of students first.
- International students, if they do come to New Zealand, will be responsible for the costs of their isolation/quarantine period.
Education New Zealand will administer the proposed funds for marketing and brand protection activities and development of new future-focused products and services, etc. Criteria for allocation of funding for PTEs and English language schools will be jointly managed by Ministry of Education and Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).