BURSARY HELP URGED Call for more technicians

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32639, 22 June 1971, Page 3

BURSARY HELP URGED Call for more technicians

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 21.

Scientific development in all branches of industry called for an urgent re-evaluation of the higher education system, the Minister of Education (Mr Taiboys) was told by representatives of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association, making representations on behalf of polytechnic students.

There was a real danger, said Mr H. N. Blundell, speaking for the association, that New Zealand would find itself with too few skilled technicians and too many academic graduates.

“This situation is a problem in many countries overseas where graduates are walking the streets,” he said.

“Not only should the status of skilled technicians be brought more in line with that of university graduates, but they should receive equal financial encouragement during training.” Mr Blundell said that at present the holder of a bursary received less financial help if he went to a polytechnic than he would with

the same bursary at university. The system was actively encouraging school-leavers to decide in favour of university. MORE MONEY

“The inducement is the most persuasive argument of all—hard cash. Students at polytechnics receive $3O allowance a year and (if eligible) $l3O boarding • allowance a year. The corresponding figures at universities are $l2O and $250. “In addition, students who have obtained A or B grades in the university bursary examination, and who receive supplementary allowances of $lOO and $6O a year, respectively, if they attend university, do not receive these allowances if they elect to study at technical institutes,” said Mr Blundell, Discrimination of this sort was obviously going to discourage r otential technical institute enrolments by young people who, with no possibility of substantial parental help, simply could not face existing on inadequate grants. “More seriously, perhaps, the disparity is going to encourage some to attend universities in search of academic qauilflcatiosn for which they have little bent, and which may be pointers to careers for which they are not suited,” Mr Blundell said.