The Fiji Methodist Church in Auckland has highlighted the struggles of Fiji students who are lured by tertiary institutions to study in New Zealand.

The concerns are highlighted in their submission on the Tertiary Education Strategy in New Zealand from 2010 to 2014 and the report is expected to be tabled for discussions at the 11th Pacific Policy conference at the Auckland University.

It is highlighted in their submission that some small institutions are enrolling students from Fiji for courses that cost $14,000 a year.

It said students are told to pay $7000 upfront and the balance to be paid while they are studying in New Zealand and working 20 hours per week.

The group notes in its submission that it is a great concern that some of those students who are lured to study in tertiary institutions under this system are struggling to study and pay for their living, let alone paying for the balance of $7000 and not being able to successfully complete their courses.
 
According to the submission, an analysis of the arrangement reveals that it is almost impossible to pay the balance of the cost and complete their studies at the same time.

The Fiji Methodist Church in Auckland has suggested that there is a need to support students to study full time as this is a big factor in completion rates and that the system should also monitor what information tertiary institutions disseminate in their promotion and marketing campaigns.

Meanwhile, it has also been highlighted at the Pacific Policy conference that in their 2006 census, Fijians were the fifth largest pacific ethnic group in New Zealand, making up 9,864 or 4 percent of New Zealand’s pacific population.

It shows that the Fijian population increased by 40 percent from 2001 to 2006, while Fijians born in New Zealand account for 44 percent or 4,251 of the total Fijian population in New Zealand.