Following on from our earlier letter to the Minister of Education and the Minister’s response, TESOLANZ has again written to the Minister (dated 8 May 2020) to express our concern about the risks COVID-19 and the associated (but necessary) border restrictions pose to the English language sector in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We are currently anxious about the potentially critical impact COVID-19 will have on our sector. Our members work in a variety roles across ECE, primary, secondary, tertiary, and refugee/migrant education. They include trained teachers, tutors, assessment experts, and academics. As an organisation, we are gravely concerned about the impact on English language programmes as well as the impact on the ability of students to access broader education pathways. For many learners, an English language qualification or assessment is their first step on a journey to further education. As stated in recent articles from multiple sectors, the provision of English language education and support to both domestic and international students is interdependent.
Read our full letter dated 8 May 2020.