Source: Tertiary Education Commission
Last updated 27 April 2021
Last updated 27 April 2021
Equity funding supports tertiary education organisations (TEOs) to improve access, participation, and achievement of Māori and Pasifika learners at higher levels of the tertiary education system, as well as participation and achievement of students with disabilities.
Equity funding supports tertiary education organisations (TEOs) to improve access, participation, and achievement of Māori and Pasifika learners at higher levels of the tertiary education system, as well as participation and achievement of students with disabilities.
One of the objectives of the Education and Training Act 2020 is to encourage a tertiary education system that promotes equal access for all learners. Making education easier to access and improving the achievement of all learners is a core part of the tertiary sector’s contribution to the educational priorities outlined in the Tertiary Education Strategy. TEOs contribute to this by accommodating the diverse needs and aspirations of students of all ethnicities, genders, ages, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Equity funding for Māori and Pasifika students is designed to improve these learners’ participation in, and achievement at, higher levels of the tertiary education system (level 5 and above on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework).
Equity funding for students with disabilities is designed to improve these learners’ participation in tertiary education, and achievement of qualifications.
Equity funding is a ‘top-up’ to Student Achievement Component (SAC) funding – to help cover the costs of providing extra support for these students. It is not intended to be the sole or primary source of funding used to support Māori or Pasifika students, or students with disabilities.
Resources
We expect all providers to offer the support required for learner success. Information can be found in:
Ka Hikitia – the Ministry of Education’s Māori education strategy
Kia Orite – Achieving Equity – the New Zealand Code of Practice for an inclusive tertiary education environment for students with impairments
Learners at the Centre – The Statement of National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP) and the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES)
Barrier Free Access – The Statement of National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP) and the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES)
Pasifika Operational Strategy 2017–2020 (PDF, 310 Kb) – our strategy to raise Pasifika achievement and success in tertiary education
Project Kāmehameha – research commissioned by Careers New Zealand about the design and delivery of career resources for Māori
Project Lumana’i – research commissioned by Careers New Zealand about the design and delivery of career resources for Pasifika
Youth Services – supports young people to engage in education, training and work-based learning
StudyLink – financial support and advice for students.
You’ll also find practical information for improving student success at Ako Aotearoa’s Resource Centre.
