COVID-19 Protection Framework guidelines and arrangements for secondary-tertiary and work-place learning students

Access to Secondary-Tertiary Programmes, STAR courses and Workplace-based Learning

• Schools and kura are open for onsite curriculum-related learning at all settings of the COVID-19 Protection Framework (the Framework), for all students. This means secondary-tertiary delivery can go ahead on the school site at Red, Orange, and Green.
• Tertiary education providers can open at all levels and will operate with public health measures in place, as appropriate for each setting of the Framework. Secondary-tertiary programmes should operate with limited or no restrictions, but this will be subject to each tertiary education provider’s internal COVID-19 policies and the appropriate health measures required under the Framework. Schools should enquire with their tertiary education provider partner/s to confirm operations at each setting of the Framework.
• There is no longer a government vaccination requirement for accessing tertiary premises at any setting of the Framework. If providers wish to continue with, or put in place, their own vaccine policies or restrictions, they will need ensure these are consistent with an updated workplace health and safety risk assessment and in consideration of their normal responsibilities. School and kura students cannot be asked to evidence their vaccination status when accessing their secondary learning in tertiary settings. However, where a student undertakes workplace-based learning as part of their course and a workforce vaccination requirement applies to that workforce, then this vaccination requirement will also apply to the student. For more information see ‘vaccination considerations for students.
• Where possible, schools and tertiary education providers are encouraged to make learning options available for those unable or unwilling to attend secondary-tertiary programme classes held onsite. Further information and resources regarding distance learning are available at the Learning from home website and the Kauwhata Reo website.

Vaccination considerations for students

• At all traffic light settings, schools are prohibited from requiring students to be vaccinated to access education whether onsite or offsite. This includes parents, caregivers and whānau supporting students and their learning.
• In addition, a tertiary education provider or business must not deny entry on vaccination grounds to a student participating in curriculum-related or extra-curricular activity.
• There are two exceptions:
  • If a student undertakes workplace-based learning as part of their course and a workforce vaccination requirement applies to that workplace, then the requirement will also apply to the student (as they are undertaking work for the business). This applies both where the workplace-based element occurs onsite at a tertiary provider or at a business (not onsite at a tertiary provider). This includes vaccination requirements imposed by government (e.g., for healthcare workers) and by a tertiary provider or business themselves (based on an up-to-date workplace health and safety risk assessment). In these instances, the student must be vaccinated to participate in that specific programme (or part of the programme that is work-based). This includes students undertaking formal workplace-based learning, for example, via the Gateway programme, as part of a secondary-tertiary programme, or students accessing New Zealand Defence Force bases for their Services Academy courses.
  • Students on a tertiary site or business premise for other reasons, where they are not participating in a school-organised curriculum-related or extra-curricular activity (e.g., open days or outreach events), are also not exempt from vaccine pass requirements and should follow the policies and processes set by the tertiary education provider or business.
• For students enrolling in courses or programmes involving workplace-based learning in a workplace setting that requires vaccination, schools and tertiary education providers need to ensure that students are aware that vaccination is required to participate. They should also confirm when vaccinations would be needed, ensuring fully vaccinated status before course start dates. Schools need to ensure they have suitable processes in place to oversee all student vaccination requirements.

Vaccination considerations for staff

• The Government has removed vaccine mandates for the early learning, primary and secondary education workforces. There are also no longer any government vaccination requirements for tertiary providers at any setting of the Framework.
• However, tertiary education providers may determine their own vaccination policies, including for staff (such as any transport drivers co-ordinated and funded by the provider), based on an updated workplace health and safety risk assessment. Schools should confirm current policy requirements with their tertiary provider partners.   
• General transport workers such as public bus drivers or train conductors are not required to be vaccinated under the Vaccination Order. Any vaccination requirements will be set by their employer.

Public health measures to support programme delivery

• Providers are prohibited from requesting evidence of vaccination from students when accessing their secondary learning in tertiary settings. Tertiary education providers should take precautions to protect all their students and teaching staff as appropriate for each setting of the Framework. Precautions applied may include alignment with school guidance. Other health measures could include requiring face masks, physical distancing and keeping class sizes small.
• Transport advice for each setting is outlined in the additional information on the different settings of the Framework. Students and staff can travel anywhere in New Zealand at any traffic light setting, but there may be some temporary restrictions in place. For further information refer to Unite Against COVID (covid.19.govt.nz) website

Inter-school secondary-tertiary programme delivery

• For school-led delivery, where schools host students from other schools:
  • Students can attend, noting secondary-tertiary programme delivery is curriculum related activity.
  • Students from other schools must follow all health measures at the host school.
  • If courses go ahead (subject to wider settings) at the Red settings, physical distancing of 1 metre should be observed where practical. Schools may also implement student groupings for delivery to further reduce the risk of spread.
  • For further detail refer to the ‘Curriculum related activities - including technology centres, examinations, assemblies and shared facilities across schools’ section of the COVID-19 Protection Framework summary | Te Mahau.
• For tertiary-led delivery at all settings, students from different schools can attend the same course at a tertiary site. Students must follow the health measures of the tertiary provider at each CPF setting (COVID-19 Protection Framework for tertiary and international sector | Te Mahau). These health measures may align with school guidelines.
• In all instances, schools and their students will determine their own participation in the available programmes (based on the specific risks identified and the risk mitigations available). Participation in STP/Trades Academy is not mandatory.

At Green, there is limited community transmission, and our health system is ready to respond. There are no restrictions.

• Tertiary education providers will operate normally and public health measures are encouraged, but not required. Each tertiary education provider will determine appropriate health measures, which could include face masks, physical distancing and keeping class sizes small. Secondary-tertiary programmes should operate with limited or no restrictions. There is no Government vaccination requirement for tertiary education premises at any traffic light setting. Tertiary education providers may, however, introduce their own vaccination policies for their students and staff based on a thorough workplace health and safety risk assessment. More information: Tertiary and international education at Green | Te Mahau
• Schools are open for onsite learning but can apply a range of public health measures to further protect students undertaking courses onsite and offsite, for example, face masks (encouraged but not required, when inside at school), maintain good hygiene, and well-ventilated classrooms and shared spaces. More information: COVID-19 Protection Framework for schools and kura | Te Mahau.
• Transport: There are no face mask requirements on public transport at Green. School transport for students also operates with no requirements. Tertiary education providers will determine their own requirements when using their vehicles to travel (expected to align with public health measures – Face masks at schools and kura | Te Mahau).
• All school and tertiary education provider events (e.g. prizegiving) can proceed, using general gatherings rules Public and private gatherings at Green | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz).

At Orange, there will be community transmission of COVID-19, with increasing risks to vulnerable communities, and pressure on the health system.

• Tertiary education providers will operate normally and public health measures (for example capacity limits, physical distancing, face masks and ventilation) are strongly recommended. This may restrict tertiary education providers’ ability to deliver some secondary-tertiary programmes, but most courses will continue with appropriate public health measures in place, as determined by each tertiary education provider. There is no Government vaccination requirement for tertiary education premises at any traffic light setting. Tertiary education providers may, however, introduce their own vaccination policies for their students and staff based on a thorough workplace health and safety risk assessment. More information: Tertiary and international education at Orange | Te Mahau
• Schools are open for onsite learning but may apply a range of public health measures in line with Green settings. More information: COVID-19 Protection Framework for schools and kura | Te Mahau
• Transport: Face masks are mandatory on public and school transport for students aged 12 and upwards (no physical distancing requirements). Tertiary education providers will determine their own requirements when using their vehicles to travel (expected to align with public health measures – Face masks at schools and kura | Te Mahau).

At Red, we need to take action to protect our vulnerable communities and our health system from COVID-19.

• Tertiary education providers will operate with public health measures in place. On tertiary education premises at Red, capacity limits must be based on 1m distancing (with no capped upper limit). In addition, face masks must be used indoors at tertiary education premises that are open to the public, and during formal teaching and learning activities (unless an exemption applies). Other health measures may align with the Orange setting. This may restrict tertiary education providers’ ability to deliver some secondary-tertiary programmes. There is no Government vaccination requirement for tertiary education premises at any traffic light setting. Tertiary education providers may, however, introduce their own vaccination policies for their students and staff based on a thorough workplace health and safety risk assessment. More information: Tertiary and international education at Red | Te Mahau.
• Schools are open for onsite learning but can apply a range of public health measures in line with Orange settings, but face masks will be required for all secondary-tertiary programme students when indoors or in close contact with others. Teachers and staff should also wear face coverings. Schools may also introduce student groups where practical for delivery to further reduce the risk of spread. More information: COVID-19 Protection Framework for schools and kura | Te Mahau.
• Transport: Face masks are mandatory on public transport for people aged 8 and over or students who are in Year 4 or above (no physical distancing requirements). Tertiary education providers will determine their own requirements when using their vehicles to travel (expected to align with public health measures – Face masks at schools and kura | Te Mahau).