No fees, but students still struggle
University students who enrolled only because of the Government’s fees-free policy are struggling on average more than their peers, research indicates.
The study of 955 first-year students at the University of Canterbury last year found 60 per cent were influenced by the policy, but
26 per cent enrolled only because their first year was free.
The lead researcher, Dr Valerie Sotardi, said the latter group was a
425 per cent increase on 2018, the first year of the policy.
However, Sotardi said the students most influenced by the policy had worse marks and less confidence than other students.
‘‘In both 2018 and in 2019, the first-year students who were more heavily incentivised by the fees reduction on average appear to have had a little bit of a more difficult time transitioning into university,’’ she said.
‘‘They were having greater difficulty in terms of their grade point average, in terms of their perceived adjustment to university, confidence was lower.
‘‘This doesn’t necessarily mean that they weren’t fully capable learners, but perhaps they weren’t as prepared or perhaps they had different expectations about the workload and the different challenges associated with university study.’’
The students were also more likely to say they were thinking of dropping out of their courses, but the data had not yet been analysed to see if they followed through on that, Sotardi said.
The research indicated low achievement was linked to students’ reasons for enrolling more than to their demographic backgrounds, she said.
Universities New Zealand director Chris Whelan said there was no sign the fees-free policy had led to big increases in enrolments or early drop-outs. ‘‘Generally, if you’re on a pathway towards university you’ve started preparing years before you get to university. Not many students get University Entrance by accident,’’ he said. ‘‘We’re certainly not seeing anything like a larger number of students discontinuing and if we are it’s more likely to be the impact of coronavirus at this stage.’’
Whelan said universities had good systems for identifying students who were struggling and helping them before they failed or dropped out.
Union of Students’ Associations president Isabella Lenihan-Ikin said the research showed the policy was encouraging people who previously would not have considered tertiary study.
Lenihan-Ikin said the fees-free policy should not be measured solely by its impact on enrolments.
‘‘This is reducing student debt of an average of $5000-$6000 per student, which is enormous when you think about the individual benefit for that student.’’ – RNZ
Hundreds of Catholics gathered in Christchurch yesterday to remember the late Rev Basil Meeking.
Meeking, who was the seventh Catholic Bishop of Christchurch died on June 11, aged 90 at Christchurch Hospital after a recent period of ill-health.
The second of four vigil requiem masses was held at Nazareth House chapel in Sydenham yesterday afternoon to pray for Meeking and to remember his life and commitment to the church.
Catholic Diocese of
Christchurch director Mike Stopforth said Meeking would be remembered as a ‘‘gifted preacher and teacher’’.
‘‘He had a real love and care for his people when he was bishop and a number of messages have come from all over the world, so he actually had quite a ministry overseas as well.’’
He said Meeking’s death was the ‘‘end of an era’’ for the Christchurch Catholic Church.
Meeking was first ordained in
1953 and served as Bishop of Christchurch from 1987 until 1996. During his time as bishop, he also served as chaplain to Christchurch Hospital and represented the Catholic Church at the National Council of Churches. In the early
60s, Meeking undertook doctoral studies at the University of St Thomas Angelicum in Rome. In
1969, he was appointed to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in Rome, where he worked for the next 18 years.
A funeral service will be at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral at 11am today, and then burial at Bromley Cemetery.