A Mosgiel student is seeking answers after discovering his beekeeping course collapsed when a national agricultural provider was ordered to repay $6 million to the Government.
The Invercargill-based Agribusiness Training Ltd went into liquidation two days ago in the wake of an investigation which found it had failed to deliver programmes for which it was funded, the Tertiary Education Commission (Tec), said.
The money may not be able to be recovered.
Agribusiness Training student Hector Wong (62), of Mosgiel, said he was ''surprised'' by the news because he was a third of the way through an Agribusiness beekeeping course, which started in July.
''I don't know where I am now.''
The 12 students on the course met twice a month in the Momona Hall and the course fees were nearly $600, he said.
When Mr Wong heard about the liquidation yesterday, he called his tutor, Brice Horner, of Momona, who was visiting Australia.
Mr Horner had no answers for Mr Wong and had not heard if his job was secure.
Both men hoped the course would be taken on by another education provider so the course work could continue.
The students had bought beekeeping equipment to complete the course and had built hives during the course.
''I going to try and get those back,'' Mr Wong said.
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) is working to support students and, if required, will help make alternative arrangements for their study.
In a statement yesterday, Tec chief executive Tim Fowler said the commission was prompted to take a closer look at Agribusiness in 2014, primarily because of significant sub-contracting arrangements it undertook on behalf of other institutions.
Agribusiness Training Ltd was one of six tertiary education organisations selected for a focused review by Tec in November 2014.
That review led to a fuller independent investigation of Agribusiness Training Ltd on Tec's behalf by Deloitte.
No significant concerns were found with the other five organisations.
However, Deloitte investigation found five Agribusiness programmes delivered fewer teaching hours than its NZQA programme approvals specified.
Two were significantly under-delivered - the certificate in land-based skills and the certificate in horticultural industry practice.
Agribusiness is a Southland-based private training establishment, which offers education and training in agriculture, horticulture, equine, safety and apiculture.
It offers courses across the country.
Mr Fowler said Agribusiness knew the rules, and could expect to have to refund tuition subsidies for breaching them.
''The TEC has found in some cases Agribusiness has not provided the teaching it was funded to deliver. This effectively means that between 2009-2014 Agribusiness received $6.24 million more than it was entitled to for the education services it provides.''
The situation had been complicated by Agribusiness's decision to go into liquidation on October 21, Mr Fowler said.
''The liquidation may affect our ability to recover the funding due to us. However, we are obviously most concerned at this point about what the liquidation might mean for current students.''
NZQA said the agency's priority was ensuring students were supported and that there was as little disruption as possible to studies.
''This may be an uncertain time for students and all efforts are being made to keep students fully informed over the coming days,'' it said.
NZQA was confident that Agribusiness has conducted student assessments correctly and that student qualifications were valid.
- Shawn McAvinue and NZME
