Certification

Background and Programme Cessation

Following review by the charity’s Capability Advisors, Trustees, and professional partners (Deloitte, Sir Pat Lynch and Lady Sheila Graham, Bentleys, and Greenwood Roche), the decision was made to discontinue funding and pro bono support for the Feuerstein Programme and its commercial entity, FIE.

This decision was driven by two factors:

FIE’s withholding of 113 certificates for the last training cohorts
The unsustainable $10,000 commission cost imposed for each training session in New Zealand (we delivered ~50 per annum).

Financial Structure Concerns

FIE’s $10,000 per course flat-fee model significantly compromised the programme’s financial sustainability and restricted nationwide delivery. This model conflicted with the charity’s objective of improving outcomes for children with learning support needs.

Key financial challenges included:

FIE’s total commission over four years: $2,000,000+ – funded philanthropically
FIE’s material markup: $250 per participant, ~500% above actual $50 cost),
FIE’s certificate distribution: $138,000 in costs, covered entirely by the charity’s philanthropic funding.

Unique Pricing Model for New Zealand

Unlike other countries that paid on per person attendance of $150 pp fee, New Zealand was subject to a flat $10,000 charge per training session, regardless of registrations. This pricing structure was introduced shortly after Reuven Feuerstein’s passing and applied only to New Zealand.

Programme Delivery and Impact

Despite financial constraints, the programme achieved notable results:

Training ~34 participants per session to maximise value under the fixed-cost structure
More than 2,350 educators were trained nationally over four years
Significant pro bono volunteer input across promotion, logistics, and administration

Certification Issues

A major disruption occurred during the final training sessions:

FIE provided just 20% of course materials
FIE had been paid the full material fees of $250/person plus GST

The charity funded emergency printing at a personal cost of $160,000 plus GST

Certificate Administration

FIE controlled certification, while New Zealand charity was responsible for:

Attendance verification through local trainers, site hire etc, marketing costs
Couriering of certificates nationwide (~$50/ea)
Covering all associated costs and volunteer labour

Stakeholder Concerns

Advisors and philanthropic funders raised consistent concerns about:

FIE’s profit-driven model being in conflict with our educational and charitable goals
Lack of long-term sustainability due to FIE costs
Departure from Reuven Feuerstein’s original educational mission

Strategic Direction

Extensive engagement with government, education, and philanthropic partners confirmed that sustained impact in New Zealand required a locally developed solution, rather than reliance on FIE’s commercial model.

Conclusion

The Feuerstein Programme provided meaningful educational outcomes, but FIE’s commercial structure proved incompatible with sustainable pro bono delivery in New Zealand. Its legacy highlights both the value of metacognitive education and the need to align financial models with educational objectives.