There has been a high failure rate among international students retested this month because of doubts about qualifications awarded by Auckland tertiary institution, IANZ.
Seventy students now need to take an English-language test to determine their suitability to remain in New Zealand. Photo: 123RF
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) today informed the 329 students of their results, with 283 failing some, or most, of their assessments.
NZQA deputy chief executive Grant Klinkum said 70 fell well short of passing all, or nearly all, of their re-assessments.
"The result of the re-assessment means that NZQA cannot allow these students to continue studying towards a qualification that they would be unlikely to succeed in."
Dr Klinkum said the 70 students needed an English-language test to determine their suitability to remain in New Zealand and undertake courses better suited to their abilities.
He said a further 213 students would need additional help to catch up and complete their qualification, and that tuition would be provided at no additional cost.
Only 46 of the students had all their credits confirmed.
The testing was needed to verify whether students were entitled to business studies credits awarded by IANZ, which had been under NZQA scrutiny since 2014.
IANZ was recently sold to another tertiary institution, EDENZ, and all its students transferred to that institution.
Only students from a level six business diploma offered by IANZ had to undergo retesting.
Dr Klinkum said NZQA was disappointed by the results of the retesting.
"It implies that the quality of teaching and learning that took place at IANZ was far short of what it should have been," he said.
"As a consequence, NZQA will continue to consider what the responsibilities of the former owners are."
Dr Klinkum said NZQA was continuing to work with EDENZ and Immigration New Zealand to make sure students were looked after and knew what their options were.
"We know this is a stressful time for the students who have not passed their reassessment and we will continue to direct students to support services we have arranged, including local ethnic community groups and confidential counselling services."