Open university entry for over-20s 'ending'

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Open entry to universities for people aged more than 20 "is effectively over", Labour says.

The party's new tertiary education spokesman, Grant Robertson, is pointing to an official direction to universities to favour young and Maori and Pasifika students when faced with enrolment pressure.

Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce told Parliament's education and science select committee yesterday that he was "quite comfortable" with the advice and said a review of open entry for over-20s was under way.

"I'm not saying we're going to [scrap] it. [But] there are only 2000 people affected. These are not significant numbers."

Since soon after World War I, all Kiwis aged over 20 have been allowed automatic entry to university, regardless of their academic performance at school.

Universities are dealing with unprecedented demand, however, and the Government will not increase the overall amount it spends on the sector.

Mr Joyce repeated yesterday that the Government wanted to get more value for money out of tertiary education.

He said those going to university without having passed the entry standard had a lower success rate than younger people who had university entrance.

Mr Robertson highlighted the guidance issued by the Tertiary Education Commission this month. It stated: "The expectation is that universities will prioritise younger learners when decisions are made in relation to managing enrolments, but not at the expense of older learners from less represented groups. Maori and Pasifika New Zealanders in particular."

He said the advice effectively amounted to "the end of open entry for over-20s".