A New Era in the Right to Sign 2.5 Tertiary education Equity funding for disabled students is available to universities, institutes of While the Commission’s NZSL Inquiry has technology, polytechnics and wānanga, but largely focused on early childhood and excludes private training establishments. compulsory education, submitters also This is different to the equity funding for raised concerns about access to tertiary Māori and Pacific students that is available education for deaf people. Tertiary to all tertiary education organisations, education is crucial for participation in the including private training establishments. labour force and is important to human rights outcomes. Therefore a brief summary Equity funding is not intended to be the of current provision and gaps is outlined sole or primary source of funding used to below. support disabled students. It is a “top-up” to general funding, in recognition of the The Government provides equity funding higher costs that can be associated with to tertiary education institutions to supporting these students. The funding improve equity of access and achievement amount is based on the total number of all for Māori, Pacific and disabled students. students – the equivalent fulltime students This funding is in response to evidence (EFTS) – at an institution. that these three groups experience clear disadvantages within the tertiary education Deaf people require NZSL interpreter and system. translation services in order to access tertiary education. Comments on the Improving equity of access and NZSL Inquiry draft report stated that the achievement for all learners is a core part current system is problematic and is not of the tertiary sector’s contribution to New encouraging deaf people to gain tertiary Zealand’s educational priorities. The Equity education. Submitters described how funding recognises additional support is tertiary providers that had a track record needed to improve participation, retention, of supporting deaf students often became completion and progression of learners “magnet” institutions. They attracted a from these targeted groups. Government higher proportion of deaf students and expectations about the type of support greater associated NZSL interpreter costs. offered to disabled students are set out Costs double where courses involve full day in Kia …rite: Achieving Equity. This is a and/or long hours of class time that require voluntary code of practice for an inclusive two interpreters working as a team. tertiary education environment for students with impairments.132 NZSL interpreter services for a fulltime undergraduate deaf student can be as much 47