31 Aug 2020

Otago University confirms changes to medical school pathway caps

From Morning Report, 6:22 am on 31 August 2020

The University of Otago has confirmed it could consider imposing caps on the number of Māori admissions to its medical school through a designated entry pathway, but has refused to give any more detail about the option.

RNZ understands a discussion document presented to the medical admissions committee earlier this month suggested capping the Māori Entry Pathway to 56 students and the Pacific Entry pathway to 20 students.

Both pathways currently have no limit, and were designed to boost the number of Māori and Pacific people in the health work force.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Health Sciences, Professor Paul Brunton, told our reporter Te Aniwa Hurihanganui no formal proposal has been made at this stage.