The Otago Daily Times reports that Otago Polytechnic is already “dramatically over” the student intake cap negotiated with the Tertiary Education Commission, and this problem would not “melt away”.

Otago Polytechnic is urging the commission to release unused student places from other tertiary institutions as soon as possible and to allow Otago to increase its roll.

Otago Polytechnic officials have warned that if enrolment trends continue, the polytechnic could have at least 300 equivalent full-time students more than was allowed this year.

Chief xecutive Phil Ker attributed this high demand to high youth unemployment in Dunedin and Otago.

Polytechnic board chairwoman Kathy Grant and Mr Ker said in later interviews that the student roll issue – with its prospect of limiting training opportunities – was not one for the polytechnic alone, but for the wider community, given high youth unemployment in the city and the desirability of people gaining further training.

“We’re a servant of this city and of this region,” Mr Ker said.

“The polytechnic is funded for 3208 EFTS this year and is able to carry another 96 unfunded EFTS.

If the polytechnic could not secure additional places, it faced slashing its enrolment quota for the second semester by 40 percent,” Mr Ker said.

“If that happened, the polytechnic would give priority to protecting those of its programmes and schools that relied on second semester enrolment for their future economic and educational viability”.

Thanks to leighblackall @ Flickr for the photo