Zero fees back for SIT distance study

The Southern Institute of Technology is celebrating the return of zero fees for its incoming intakes of distance-learning students.

SIT has offered zero-fees education, subject to terms and conditions, since 2001 and extended the scheme to include those enrolling to study remotely through the SIT2LRN faculty when it started in 2007.

But the advent of the centralised Te Pūkenga New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology under the previous Labour-led Government meant that since the start of this year the scheme was available only to students living in Southland.

Under the National-led Government, the Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills - and Invercargill MP - Penny Simmonds is disestablishing Te Pūkenga.

And now the scheme, which Simmonds herself established during her term as chief executive at SIT, returns as an offering to the next intake of distance learners, starting this month.

“I am delighted to see the zero fees scheme back where it belongs – allowing students across the country to access the unique programmes that SIT has to offer,’’ she said. “I believe local decision-making around zero fees is the way forward for SIT and I am pleased that the new direction of this Government has enabled this to happen.

“Let’s not forget that Southland community funders granted $7.25m to get the zero fees scheme off the ground more than 20 years ago – it’s only fitting that this local initiative be able to continue for the benefit of the local community.’’

Simmonds said she was determined to continue with the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga and a return to more local decision-making – “after the last government wasted hundreds of millions of dollars building a bureaucracy, even while staff morale collapsed and regional needs suffered’’.

SIT operations lead Daryl Haggerty said the zero fees return for distance learners was a giant leap forward for the institute.

“It will allow ākonga (students) who may not have been able to engage in learning, due to cost considerations, to do so now,’’ he said.

SIT2LRN had been proactive in meeting the needs of students wishing to increase their skill base and qualifications but unable to access traditional study programmes.

This could have been due to barriers such as disabilities, work, family commitments, costs, location or distance.

The faculty had also responded to employers and industry looking to upskill existing workforces. Their input had resulted in programmes that were relevant to meeting the needs of both industry and the students.

However, there was no provision to repay fees for the intake of students who had paid their fees for the start of this year.