The private business institute’s collapse in New Zealand has left more than 200 international students in the lurch, with students now claiming that neither the education provider nor the regulator, New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) are coming to their rescue.
NZQA claims that the Kiwi Institute of Training and Education known as KITE had requested them to cancel their registration as a private training establishment, as a result of which it was put into liquidation, earlier this month.
Kiwi Institute of Training and Education (KITE) has gone into liquidation, leaving many foreign students in the lurch. Source: Supplied by Danyal Syed
“It all began last year when conditions were imposed on KITE’s marking and teaching standards and when they couldn’t handle the subsequent inquiry, they took the easy way out and filed for liquidation,” said the 25-year-old student who is determined not to let KITE get away with this ‘farce’.
Karambir Singh, a former KITE student. Source: Supplied by Danyal Syed
“It is completely heartbreaking. No one is offering a foolproof solution. The NZQA has told us that it will take up to three weeks to examine our submissions and declare the results. If we pass, we’d get our diplomas and we’d be able to apply for a work visa as planned.
“But if NZQA decides that we’ve failed as per their marking standards, they’d refund our fees and we’ll have to enrol with another provider, which is completely unacceptable,” added Mr Singh.
Another option that has been tabled for students stranded on unfinished courses is to transfer to another institute. But to do this, students will have to fork out an extra $350 to apply for a new visa, on top of losing thousands of dollars they have already spent.
“I come from a middle-class family and like me, many of the other students also cannot afford to spend more money or time. And on top, where is the guarantee that this new institute will not go defunct on us,” said Mr Singh.
‘Money wouldn’t solve the problem’
Sher Singh, a volunteer with Migrant Workers Association who is helping the affected students in reaching out to the NZQA alleged that private institutes like KITE were set-up in the country to mint money from foreign students.
“Institutes like KITE are extensively scamming innocent international students who believe they are coming to New Zealand for a better life, but for providers like KITE, they’re nothing short of cash cows,” said Mr Singh.
Many of the affected students across the institute’s campuses in Auckland, Christchurch and Hamilton claim they have spent years and nearly $40,000 on an education that may now be inadmissible.
“We want NZQA to find a better solution to end the ongoing crisis for the students because a fee refund does not solve their problem, it rather aggravates it. What we want is compensation for their time and effort. How do they plan to refund that? Money alone wouldn’t solve the problem’ ” said Mr Singh.
In its defence, the qualification watchdog has said the welfare of the students is their top priority.
"We appreciate this is a difficult time for the affected students and our priority is to support them as much as possible. We are committed to working with students over the coming weeks to provide whatever practical support we can,” NZQA said in a statement to .
A picture of a group of former KITE students from India. Source: Supplied by Danyal Syed
R Saini, an Auckland-based immigration agent said the most disturbing part of the trend is that many affected students may give up on college education altogether, and may eventually have to go back to India.
“The reality is that if their credits are not found to be up to the mark, many of them who are waiting for their results will have to start over. It’s the worst-case scenario where you have debt, but no degree.
“And no degree would mean the deportation of many dreams,” said Mr Saini.
SBS Punjabi understands that the affected students are drafting a letter enlisting their demands to be sent out to Immigration New Zealand and NZQA.
“We’re hoping we’d get to hear some good news in the coming days,” said Karambir Singh.
