Overseas Student Rule ‘Completely Obsolete’

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32393, 4 September 1970, Page 14

Overseas Student Rule ‘Completely Obsolete’

Far too many of the rules and conditions applying to overseas students while in New Zealand were “completely archaic and obsolete,” the University Students’ Association overseas student officer (Mr Rahman Khan) said in Christchurch yesterday.

“These rules and conditions give rise to many unfortunate incidents which could be avoided by better planning. Some of these difficulties are caused by poor administrative procedures and others are caused by some ludicrous and at times incredible conditions which overseas students have to comply with while in this country," Mr Khan said. He was commenting before a conference which has been called by the N.Z.U.S.A. to discuss difficulties faced by overseas students.

The conference, to be held in Wellington on September 7, will be attended by representatives of the Department of Labour, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Education, the University Grants Committee and constituent members of the N.Z.U.S.A. The Ombudsman (Sir Guy Powles) is expected to act as chairman.

Mr Khan said that the decision to hold the conference had arisen out of the biennial overseas student seminar held in Christchurch in May when many of the difficulties of overseas students before ana after their arrival in New Zealand were highlighted. “One example of the ludicrous situation facing some of our students is marriage,” Mr Khan said.

“First, no married woman is eligible for an undergraduate study permit and students are not allowed to marry while they are in New Zealand. If a marriage does

take place and a child is born there have been instances when the Labour Department has asked that the child be returned to the native country of his parents.” Mr Khan also expressed concern at the lack of special welfare facilities for overseas students at New Zealand universities. “At the moment the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledges its responsibility/for welfare aspects towards only about 700 of more than 3000 overseas students here. N.Z.U.S.A. feels that a full-time counsellor should be appointed especially for overseas students on all campuses." “The time has certainly come for the Government here to recognise its responsibilities to those students who face special difficulties.” Mr Khan also said that the N.Z.U.S.A. would seek during the forthcoming conference a clear definition of the term "participation in political activity” as outlined by the Goveriment forbidding overseas students to take part in such pursuits while in New Zealand.

“As students they naturally become involved in student politics and the distinction between this area and national politics is now very blurred.”