Overseas student numbers discussed

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32474, 8 December 1970, Page 18

Overseas student numbers discussed

The University Amendment Act was not designed to relieve the pressure of overseas student numbers on New Zealand universities, the overseas student officer of the New Zealand University Students’ Association (Mr Rahman Khan) said in Christchurch last evening.

Mr Khan was commenting , on an editorial in “The] Press” on Monday which! dealt with the Amendment; Act. “What the act does is to| co-ordinate the restriction I policies or otherwise of j different universities,” he said. “This the association feels is the responsibility of the Government. If educating students from overseas is a significant part of New Zealand’s foreign aid then the nature and extent of restriction to be anplied is a political decision.”

Mr Khan pointed, out that through the amendment the responsibility for the limitation of student numbers was placed at the door of the universities.

“This should be the resoonsih'lity of the Government. The question is not how many students New Zealand can take in its universities but to what extent it lis willing to help in the de-

(Velopment of its neiehbours j through aiding the education of the youth of South-East ■ Asia and the Pacific.” he ! said.

• Commenting on the sueees|tion that overseas students 'Should pav higher universitv fees, Mr Khan su'd that such a scheme would he “unethical, unworkable and would cause irreparable damage to New Zealand’s image in the region.” “Such a scheme in operation in Britain has led to a massive exclusion of students from countries which desperately need this tyne of assistance.” “If New Zealand were to adont this policv it would lead to the acceptance of students from onlv one [bracket of the social structure of developing countries. ; All of this would ultimately [have serious political renercussions in South-East Asia and the Pacific far in excess of anv temporary benefit. New Zealand might obtain,”; Mr Khan said.