13 May 2020

Cooks students in NZ want to complete studies at home

3:45 pm on 13 May 2020

Cook Islands tertiary students in New Zealand are wanting to return home to complete their studies.

The Otago uni association has members keen to complete their online studies from their COVID19-free homelands.

Cook Islands students including their association co-president Tiamai Koteka (in orange) at First Church, Dunedin. Photo: Supplied

High Commissioner to New Zealand, Elizabeth Wright-Koteka, said most of the 50 students who provided feedback to her staff said they want to complete their degree online, from the Cook Islands.

But they're also worried about how online learning will cope with choppy internet connections in the Cooks.

"The main issues they've identified have been the impact of isolation on their studies, adapting to new challenges of online learning, and the lack of communication or information from home amidst their own homesickness," she said.

Ms Wright-Koteka said with the mid year semester break looming, many were wanting clarity on border restrictions.

The Cook Islands government is currently only lifting travel restrictions for those who need medical evacuation from Rarotonga, and for the last two Auckland-Rarotonga quarantine flights this Saturday and next weekend.

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