“Students Penalised By Increased Fees”

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29803, 21 April 1962, Page 12

“Students Penalised By Increased Fees”

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, April 20

A number of students who are making excellent progress with their studies are being penalised by the tripling of university fees, the council of the New Zealand University Students’ Association was told in Auckland today In his annual report to the council, the president. Mr E A Woodfield, pointed to a number of “serious omissions and anomalies” in the new bursary scheme “These will create—in fact, are creating considerable problems for many students and may seriously impede their studies, if not stop them altogether.” he said

“Overshadowing these gaps in the new system are Wie increased tuition fees If students are not covered by bursaries they face immediate financial penalties if they wish to pursue a university course "

“Pay-as-you-learn” was often the alternative to no learning at all for many universitv students today, said Mr Woodfield "Is this in New Zealand’s proud educational tradition of equality of opportunity for all?” he asked

Discussing the new bursary scheme Mr Woodfield said that there was no provision for students taking the bachelor of arts and bachelor of laws conjoint degree course Other conjoint degrees were also not covered The new master’s bursary was tenable for one year only, whereas in some faculties it was compulsory for students to spend two years on their master’s degrees There appeared to be no assistance—either by payment of fees or by bursary—for students wanting to take a master’s degree part-time “Students in the categories mentioned above students who are pursuing recognised courses of study at our universities—are being penalised even though they may be making excellent progress in their studies.” he said

“There are further groups of students who are particularly hard-hit bv the increased tuition fees These ar® students who do not receive bursaries but have enjoyed the benefit of low tuition fees, a built-in bursary when they started their co> es These include students taking a second degree, private students from overseas, and students who are studying under provisional admittance

“There are also those

students who had qualified for bursary assistance but who. for various reasons, had arranged their courses to take a longer period than was covered by the 'bursary scheme “In these groups there are a number of students who have been making reasonable progress in their studies, who have not failed but who are now forced to borrow for their education, or who may be forced to seek timepayment terms from the university authorities” The council during its Easter meeting is to prepare a fully documented case for presentation to the Government, in the hope that amended regulations can be brought down to cover students enrolling in 1963