While many secondary schools continue to applaud the University of Otago for raising the entry level for its programmes, one educator has criticised the timing of the new criteria's introduction.
Tania Roxborogh, a Dunedin secondary school teacher, said it was "great stuff" that Otago University had lifted the bar, but believed it was not good timing for hundreds of year 13 pupils who had been working steadily for the past 18 months, only to find they now fail to meet the criteria for preferential entry.
She said there was a "flurry" of texting yesterday among many pupils who were "gobsmacked" because they did not receive NCEA level 2 with a merit or excellence endorsement, and are not sitting enough NCEA level 3 credits to qualify for preferential entry.
Ms Roxborogh said had, for years, continued to tell pupils that level 2 was the university entrance (UE) standard.
She was involved in the writing, testing and evaluating NCEA in English and ensured that schools have maintained the level (curriculum level 7) of the old UE and sixth form certificate.
Both, if achieved, allowed entrance to university under-graduate programmes.
"Lifting the bar is not an issue; but not giving enough warning to this year's young people so that they could have ensured what they study at school does not hinder their academic future, is an issue.
"I suspect a great number of year 13 students, even those who are doing six subjects, will be now looking at what they can do in the way of earning extra credits to ensure they make up the 140 points.
"That's a lot of extra stress in this, a very assessment loaded term."
University of Otago deputy vice-chancellor (academic and international) Prof Vernon Squire said the university identified very early in its work that, due to the notice given, there was potential for NCEA level 3 pupils to be disadvantaged by the normal requirement for the preferential entry standard of 140 points to be met in university-entrance approved subjects only.
"For this reason, we have left the way open to consider both approved and non-approved subjects for 2011 on a case-by-case basis.
"It is also important to stress that all students who met the previous and long-standing minimum standard for entrance - university entrance with minimum age and language requirements also met - will still be eligible to seek admission to Otago, either via the preferential or competitive pathway."
Concerns were also raised on Thursday by several educators about using NCEA level 2 results as a criteria for preferential entry, because there did not appear to be anything to prevent those gaining entry in level 2 from "mucking about" in level 3.
However, the University of Otago's selection criteria states pupils must achieve 42 credits at NCEA level 3, or higher, to be eligible for university entrance.
The University of Otago has also clarified its policy on international students.
Pro-vice-chancellor (international) Prof Sarah Todd said the university had a policy of capping international student enrolments at 12% of its total roll.
In addition, within that 12%, no more than 25% of students are accepted from any one country.
"This ensures we have a diversified student body, and is reflected in the current cohort comprising students from 98 countries," she said.
"As with any policy, this 12% cap is subject to review, but it is a separate issue to the limitations imposed on domestic student enrolment, as the latter is being driven by Government decisions to limit the number of domestic students funded, while international students have been required to pay the full cost of their university education since the Education Act was amended in 1990 to prevent Government funding being used to support international students."