Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education provides ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) funding for migrant and refugee students at primary and secondary schools. In 2004 the government increased the amount of ESOL funding and the period of eligibility because a migrant or refugee student may need English language tuition for up to five years.
The Ministry of Education has also implemented a range of additional initiatives to assist schools in supporting migrant and refugee background students. These include:
- Families Learning Together booklets. These are available in English, Chinese, Korean, Hindi, Arabic, Somali, Amharic, Farsi and Khmer. They include information on levels of schooling, how schools are managed, the rights and responsibilities of caregivers, attendance, fees, dealing with problems, uniforms, discipline, homework, school terms and holidays, and how parents can support their children’s learning in the home.
- Regional Migrant and Refugee Education Coordinators have been appointed in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch. Their role is to provide information and assist with the enrolment, placement and adjustment of refugee students into schools.
- The Flexible Funding Pool. In recognition of the significant needs of refugee students the schools can make application to the Ministry of Education for additional funding to implement support initiatives for students from a refugee background. These may include homework centres, additional curriculum support and the employment of bilingual liaison workers and tutors.
- Computers in Homes (CIH). Targeted schools or community based organisations are contracted to provide 15 weeks training and a free computer and Internet connection for twelve months for up to 80 refugee background families each year.
Ministry of Education PDF [43KB]
Tertiary Education Commission
The Tertiary Education Commission has a range of programmes available for people who are new to New Zealand and need assistance to develop their English language skills.
The programmes include:
- English for Migrants, funding of courses for migrants who have pre-purchased tuition before coming to New Zealand. The English for Migrants service offers clients access to Language Line, the telephone interpreting service. To speak to a English for Migrants representative in one of the 39 languages currently offered, phone 0800 376 569. State your language and ‘Language Line’ for an interpreter in your language to be connected.
- An ESOL Assessment and Access Specialist Service, providing people with English language needs with an assessment of their language level, and advice, information and referral to appropriate ESOL programmes and courses in their area.
- Academic Migrant Grants, providing free places for migrants who have tertiary qualifications and English language needs. The grants allow eligible migrants to take ESOL courses at approved universities, institutes of technology and polytechnics.
- Bilingual Tutor Grants, helping people with bilingual language skills become qualified adult ESOL tutors, to help learners with low English language skills.
- Refugee Study Grants, providing free places to adults from refugee backgrounds to take ESOL courses at approved universities, institutes of technology and polytechnics.
Tertiary Education Commission Services for Migrants PDF [34KB]