Code of Practice for the Care of International Students

When students from other countries come to study in New Zealand, it is important that those students are well informed, safe, and properly cared for.

New Zealand educational providers have an important responsibility for international students' welfare.

This pamphlet provides an overview of the "Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students" (the Code), and provides a procedure that students can follow if they have concerns about their treatment by a New Zealand educational provider or agent of a provider.

Please download a copy of the Overview of the Code of Practice for the Care of International Students.

ESOL Programme

International students are taught alongside New Zealand students in supportive mainstreamed classrooms to encourage the development of English language and social relationships.

As well as this, the school employs a full time ESOL teacher/International Co-ordinator to teach students who have English as their second language. Separate classrooms are provided for the teaching of ESOL programmes, where students are taught English in small group situations. A teacher aide is also employed to support students in the mainstream and specialist classrooms. The school does not have any pre-enrolment requirements in terms of English knowledge. The students are given English assessments in the first weeks of school and placed in an appropriate ESOL group, if required. Children who have a limited level of English are withdrawn for lessons for a set period each day.

In addition to ESOL lessons, all ESOL students participate in the Rainbow Reading programme. This is an audio-facilitated reading programme that comprises six reading levels (from a 5 - 12 year reading age). The books contain one story or article of wide ranging interests. The programme is learner-centred as it is designed to accommodate students' different needs, learning styles and current levels of skill.

The school is currently working towards getting resources on line and developing intranet facilities for students to access. This will help to facilitate independent learning and improve communication.

A Korean Counselor has been employed to assist Korean students and families with first language support, and the school can put students and families in contact with other ethnic support workers, as required.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care relates to the safety, health and well-being of the student. Belmont Intermediate is committed to the pastoral care of the student(s) living with you. To provide this pastoral care, first language support is available through a Pastoral Care Person/Cultural Support Person/Counsellor/First Language Person (interpreter) who is seen weekly by the student.

Second language support is provided through the International Student Co-ordinator who is available to the student during school hours. Should urgent counselling be required, the student will have been provided with a school emergency mobile number which can be called 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A summary of the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students

The Code sets standards for educational providers to ensure that:
* high professional standards are maintained
* the recruitment of international students is undertaken in an ethical and responsible manner
* information supplied to international students is comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date
* students are provided with information prior to entering into any commitments
* contractual dealings with international students are conducted in an ethical and responsible manner
* the particular needs of international students are recognised
* international students under the age of 18 are in safe accommodation
* all providers have fair and equitable internal procedures for the resolution of international student grievances

Full details of what is covered can be found in the Code itself, available from http://www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/international

The Code also establishes the IEAA and the Review Panel to receive and adjudicate on student complaints.

What will the IEAA do?

The purpose of the IEAA is to adjudicate on complaints from international students. The IEAA will investigate complaints and determine if there has been a breach of the Code. The IEAA has the power to impose sanctions on educational providers who have committed a breach of the Code that is not a serious breach. These sanctions include an order for restitution, publication of the breach, and / or requiring that remedial action be undertaken.
The IEAA will refer complaints that are not about pastoral care to another regulatory body if appropriate.
The educational provider will be given a reasonable time to remedy the breach. If the breach is not remedied within that time, the IEAA may refer the complaint to the Review Panel.
The IEAA can determine if it considers that a breach of the Code is a serious breach. If the breach is a serious breach, the IEAA will refer the complaint to the Review Panel.

What can the Review Panel do?

The Review Panel can remove or suspend an educational provider as a signatory to the Code, meaning that the provider would be prevented from taking any more international students. Only the IEAA can refer complaints to the Review Panel.

What is the International Education Appeal Authority (IEAA)?

The IEAA is an independent body established to deal with complaints from international students about pastoral care aspects of advice and services received from their educational provider or the provider's agents. The IEAA enforces the standards in the Code of Practice.

How can I contact the IEAA?

International Education Appeal Authority
C/- Ministry of Education
Private Bag 47-911
Ponsonby
Auckland

Fax: (09) 374 5403
Phone: (09) 374 5481
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Advice and Support

If you have any concerns whatsoever concerning the welfare, health and safety of the student please contact the school immediately. If you notice ongoing homesickness and behavioural problems, or require support and advice on cultural issues please contact the International Student Co-ordinator at the address below, who will provide assistance or a referral to the Pastoral Care Person/Cultural Support Person/Counsellor/First Language Person (Interpreter).

Accidents and Emergencies

Belmont Intermediate school is responsible for all emergency procedures during school hours.
In the event of an accident or emergency, appropriate action will be taken and you will be contacted as soon as possible using your home details or your emergency contact details provided on the student's application form at enrolment. The student's insurance company will also be contacted if required.

Should there be an emergency out of school hours, the student will have been provided with a school emergency mobile number which can be called 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Should there be an emergency in the student's home country, the parents of the student will have also been provided with the school emergency mobile number.

Grievance Issues

Should a student have a problem relating to school friends, teachers or their designated caregiver, they should report this immediately to the ESOL teacher, the school Principal, the classroom teacher or the Korean Counselor. Copies of the school's grievance procedures and the summary document of the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students are available on request.

Change of Address

If you move accommodation it is very important that you give details of your new address and telephone number to the office, student's teacher, and International Student Co-ordinator.

Student Absences and Withdrawal

•    Students who are absent from school must inform the school office prior to the commencement of the school day.
•    If the absence should be for an extended period of time, a letter applying for this leave must be forwarded to the school Principal.
•    The school will ring home if the student has an unexplained absence.
•    A student wishing to withdraw from the school must give one term's notice and discuss the withdrawal with the Principal.
•    If a student has an unexplained absence of more than 20 days, the student will be withdrawn from the school roll, the department of immigration informed and the student visa revoked. If the student fails to attend school, the Principal will follow the procedures set out in the Ministry of Education's circular 99/03, 'Rules for Student Enrolment' and use the Ministry of Education NETS -1 form where appropriate.

Termination of Enrolment

•    Tuition may be terminated by Belmont Intermediate following incidences of gross misconduct.
•    All international students will be treated under the same terms and conditions as set down for stand down, suspension and exclusion by the Ministry of Education. Parents will be contacted to discuss all situations before any termination of tuition is considered.
•    If an international student's enrolment is terminated, the New Zealand Immigration Service will be notified and the student visa revoked.

Immigration Requirements

Full details of visa permit requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service, and can be viewed on their website http://www.immigration.govt.nz

All students must hold a current student visa for enrolments in excess of three calendar months, before an enrolment can be accepted. All passports must be sighted by the school confirming the student's visa status and the age of the child. The school will only enrol students who are of intermediate school age.

Health and Travel Insurance

Most students are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand unless they are:
•    A resident or citizen of Australia; or
•    a national of the United Kingdom in New Zealand; or
the holder of a temporary permit that is valid for two years or more.

If you do not belong to one of these categories and you receive medical treatment during the visit, you will be liable for the full costs of that treatment. It is a requirement that all students have insurance that will cover the costs of medical treatment for the duration of their stay in New Zealand and insurance to cover travel to and from New Zealand.

Fee Protection

As part of our fee protection obligations, the Board will hold all fees in excess of the current term in the International Students account and will be drawn on term by term.

Additional Costs

•    Students will need to purchase items of school uniform and stationery.
•    Throughout the year, students will be expected to participate in school trips, sports teams and cultural activities. These expenses will be notified through school notices.

Refund of Fees

•    On acceptance of enrolment, a deposit of NZ$1,000.00 is to be paid by all international students. This deposit is non-refundable to cover administration and staffing costs should the student fail to take up the position. If however, the Department of Immigration fails to issue a student visa, the deposit will be refunded.
•    If the student withdraws, or gains residency, prior to completing the period for which they have paid, the fees calculated for each remaining term will be refunded provided one full term's notice is given.
•    Students who withdraw, or gain residency, without giving one term's notice will have $1,000.00 deducted to cover administration and staffing costs.
•    No refund will be made to a student who, for gross misconduct, is excluded from the school by the Board of Trustees.

Accommodation

•    The school does not organize home-stay facilities.
•    Students staying with a designated caregiver organized by the parents, must meet all requirements as set down in the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. The suitability of the accommodation is a requirement of enrolment.
•    An indemnity form must be completed and written evidence provided by the parents, if students are to be residing with a designated caregiver i.e. relative or close family friend.
•    Interviews and/or home visits with students staying with a designated caregiver will be conducted by the school each term to ensure the accommodation is suitable.
•    A Police vet will be undertaken, for all persons aged 18 and over living in the caregiver's accommodation.
•    Where the school identifies any concern regarding child abuse, the school will follow the CYFS Child Abuse Reporting Protocol.
Communication with Parents

Students are required to have regular communication and weekly telephone contact with their parents. The student needs to receive or make a telephone call to their parents at a set time every week from your accommodation. The student needs to be provided with a private room to make or take this call and also have options for telephone contact outside these set times. In addition students could keep in contact through email and online chatting, or by writing letters and drawing pictures to their parents.

When the weekly phone calls are made or received from the parents at your accommodation the calls need to be recorded in a Telephone Log Book (provided by Belmont Intermediate) with the date and time that the call was made or received. You may need to be available if the child becomes distressed after the call, and note any behaviour or concerns in the Telephone Log Book. The Telephone Log Book is then required to be brought to school by the student every week and support will be provided by the school if there are any concerns. Should any phone calls be made or received from the parents at Belmont Intermediate School, the calls will also be recorded in a Telephone Log Book and support provided by the school if required.