as $30,000 per semester. One institution Equity funding for deaf students in order reported that they spent 80 per cent of to improve deaf students’ enrolment and their Equity funding on the provision of achievement levels in tertiary education. NZSL interpreter services to about 12 deaf Options to be explored would include: students. These made up less than four per cent of their total disabled student population. Smaller tertiary education 1 increasing the funding level to cover the costs of NZSL interpreter services institutions may struggle to fund the high costs of NZSL interpreters. 2 broadening the range of eligible tertiary education organisations to include Deaf students may also apply to use their private training establishments Workbridge Training Support funds for tertiary study. However, this is a capped 3 investigating whether such funding one-off, lifetime limit of $15,600 which should be tagged to individual deaf could be depleted very quickly in many students rather than allocated according tertiary education courses. Deaf people are to total enrolments. sometimes wary of using this limited funding when they might require it for future careerrelated training. Recommendations In implementing the recommendations The current system of support for deaf below, the Ministry of Education is students to gain tertiary education strongly encouraged to consider the qualifications is problematic. It does not recommendations of the Fitzgerald Report. recognise the high costs of NZSL interpreter It should also explore technological services in tertiary education settings and opportunities such as those provided by limits deaf people’s participation in tertiary ultrafast broadband Internet. education. Deaf people should have access to the same range of tertiary courses and providers as other people. Submitters Early childhood suggested that the funding model should be That the Ministry of Education, in improved to realistically recognise the costs consultation with other relevant government of NZSL interpreter services. It should be agencies and the proposed interim Expert tagged to the deaf student irrespective of Advisory Group on NZSL what tertiary provider or course they attend. and ultimately the NZSL Statutory Board: The Commission strongly suggests that the 1 increases NZSL resources and support to Tertiary Education Commission reviews 48 enable the acquisition of NZSL in early