Social work students at a Taranaki polytech fear their degrees could end up being worthless after three tutors took redundancy as part of an institute-wide staffing review.
Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
They say the move has put the programme's registration at risk, and they have written to the chief executive of the Western Institute of Technology (WITT) demanding answers.
Second year student Melissa Hill helped pen the letter to the institute's chief executive Barbara George.
Ms Hill said the students want to know how the staff were allowed to leave all at once and what implications it would have for the future of the programme.
"So we are down to one tutor that fits the (Social Workers Registration Board) criteria of a social worker tutor.
"So who has their current practising certification and a minimum of a masters degree which allows them to teach at our level?"
The institute had about 13 students enrolled in year one of the four-year degree, 18 in year two and 10 in year three.
Ms Hill said the students had not yet been enrolled properly so could not apply for student loans and there was no timetable so organising childcare was a nightmare.
On top of that she said there was the fear the course could be de-registered.
"Why are we going to spend another $7000 this year when it's so up in the air? We need guarantees that this is going to be of good quality delivery and it's going to, at the end of the day, matter as part of our registration."
Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers Taranaki branch co-convenor Lisa Wall said the remaining tutor was on stress leave and she had no idea where the polytech would find replacement tutors at such short notice.
"So the students are being told at the moment 'come in on February the 27th', but the thing is for a social work degree to be accredited, is that 60 percent of staff have to be registered social workers with a minimum of a masters degree and you can't just pluck those of the street."
Ms Wall said she could not see how the degree, which was registered with the Waikato Institute of Technology but also taught at New Plymouth's polytechnic, could run.
"They can't, they cannot continue with the programme. They have got no social work tutors to teach it. None.
"They are still advertising it. They are telling the students it's all fine, but they have got zero social work tutors.
"I can't see at this moment in time how it is going to be possible with less two weeks to go until they start back."
WITT chief executive Barbara George. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
However, WITT chief executive Barbara George disagrees.
"We are required to have masters qualified registered social workers teaching on the programme, but they're not required to teach every paper.
"But every person who will be teaching on the programme has a masters in another and related discipline."
Ms George said the institute was trying to recruit one more part time social work tutor and the programme would be going ahead as planned on 27 February.
She apologised for any confusion caused to students.
"I understand that there is uncertainty and that is making people a little anxious and we're working just as fast as we can. Our faculty leader has written to all the students this morning to just try and reassure them."
Wintec chief executive Mark Flowers said he was being kept informed of staff changes at the Taranaki polytech and was happy with arrangements it was making.
"Both the Western Institute of Technology and Wintec are fully aware of the Social Work Registration Board programme recognition standards and the requirements that have to be met.
"Neither institution would consider running any qualification without the required number of teaching staff."
But Social Workers Registration Board acting chief executive and registrar, Jan Duke, said she was concerned about the situation in Taranaki and had asked for an explanation.
"I have asked Wintec to confirm for me the teaching staff at New Plymouth for this coming semester."
Ms Duke said it was not possible for one suitably qualified and registered social worker to manage an entire four-year degree programme even with support from tutors from other disciplines.