The income derived from foreign fee-paying students must be protected against the possibility of an interruption to the course. Internal procedures assist the school in monitoring income and expenditure to ensure that money is controlled appropriately.
To comply with the South Wellington Intermediate Policy on International Student Fee Protection the following Procedures are to be followed:
1. Student Fee income will be deposited in a separate South Wellington Intermediate School Board of Trustees Bank Account.
2. International Student Fee Income will be coded to a separate ledger code in the Financial Accounting System.
3. International Student Tuition Fees will be treated as ‘Income in Advance’ and will be shown in the Balance Sheet until the school has earned the monies.
4. International Student Tuition Fees will be transferred to the Operating Statement one term in arrears.
5. The Board will ensure monies will be available for refunds resulting from;
a) the termination of the tuition contract
b) the school no longer being a signatory to the code
c) the school ceasing to be a provider of education for international students, or
d) when the school is unable to continue to deliver a programme.
6. Monthly reporting to the board details both income and expenditure and is monitored closely.
South Wellington Intermediate has arranged appropriate insurance that provides professional indemnity protection for the school and trustees’ liability covering Fee Protection. This cover is provided by MOE Insurance Scheme.
If an International student needs to withdraw from the school before the completion date as stated on their Offer of Place, their parent/legal guardian may apply for a refund of tuition fees.
1. The fee refund policy must be given to parents and then it must be signed as part of the contract upon enrolment.
2. Refunds will be given in accordance with the contract South Wellington Intermediate has with the international student.
3. To be eligible for a refund, the international student’s parents/guardian must apply in writing to the Board of Trustees/Principal within one month of the student’s last day at school (or within one month of the student gaining permanent residency) explaining the special circumstances.
4. The Board of Trustees/Principal will consider the Refund Application and will, in all cases, look fairly at applications for a refund of full fees or part fees.
5. If the application for a refund is made before the stated commencement date, the school will refund the fees in full, less an administration fee. This includes if a student is not granted a student visa to attend South Wellington Intermediate.
6. If the application for a refund is made after the stated commencement date, the school will determine the level of refund taking into account costs already incurred such as;
a) the administration fee which is non-refundable
b) the proportion of the Government Levy the school is required to pay.
c) costs to the school already incurred for tuition or for the part/remainder of the term in which the student leaves
d) Components of the fee already committed for the duration of the course
e) Specialist fees (if applicable)
f) Appropriate proportions of salaries for teachers and support staff (if applicable)
g) Costs already incurred for the use of facilities and resources
h) Any other costs already incurred.
7. Special circumstances will be taken into consideration (eg death of a close family member, serious illness or accident)
8. No refund will be made in the following instances:
a) When a student is required to leave the school for a breach of the rules and conditions of enrolment at the school or has broken a New Zealand law.
b) Where a student has been stood-down, suspended or excluded.
c) Where a student returns home for any reason other than serious illness, accident or death of a close family member.
d) If the enrolment application is found to be inaccurate in any way and the contract is terminated.
e) If a student wants to transfer to another school or educational institution for any reason.
9. Those students whose status changes enabling them to qualify as a domestic student during the term, may apply for a refund from the date of the official New Zealand Immigration documentation, stating that they have domestic status.
a) The documentation of residency must be provided to the school within 14 days of it being granted.
b) The refund would be less any costs as listed in the Refund Policy Guidelines above – section 6a-h.
10. If Tawa Intermediate fails to provide the agreed course of education or is no longer a signatory to the Code or no longer operates as an international education provider, South Wellington Intermediate will negotiate with the student and their family to either:
a) refund the unused portion of international student tuition fees or other fees paid for services not delivered or
b) transfer the amount of any eligible refund to another provider
11. Payment of refunds will be made directly to the parent/guardian or to an agent upon written authority from the parent/guardian. South Wellington Intermediate will never refund fees directly to the student.