Student cut-back worries Asians

Press, 2 August 1979, Page 13

Student cut-back worries Asians

Government policy in New Zealand towards Asian students at secondary schools and universities worries some Asian diplomats. The reason is not the increase in attendance fees from $2OO to $l5OO but fears that this may be accompanied by restrictions on the number of Asian students to New Zealand. In Jakarta, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur are influential groups of “New Zealand old boys.” Many are in government offices; others are businessmen; and some are lawyers and educationists. When issues involving their country’s relations with New Zealand arise their influence helps promote good relations between New Zealand and their own country, diplomats say. “Many other ■ countries

would give their eye-teeth to have this reservoir of good will existent in these Asian capitals,” said one New Zealand envoy. “Apart from the presence of Asian students at New Zealand schools and universities, which gives oup students useful exposure to neighbouring peoples, the fact that they also get to know your society is very helpful.” he said. Officials in the region say the impression is growing that New Zealand is hardening its attitude towards taking in Asian students and is much less interested in an interchange of people. It is reflected, they say, in lower numbers of Asian students seeking places in New Zealand schools and universities. Rumours in Malaysia were that New Zealand was no longer accepting pupils for secon-dary-school places.

A spokesman at the New Zealand High Commission in Kuala Lumpur said that the policy of the Government towards the admittance of foreign students was under review. The review was not finished and the commission was processing applications for entry to New Zealand schools in the same- manner as in previous years. Secondary-school pupils were selected for entry by the commission but undergraduates were chosen in Wellington. No restriction was placed on the acceptance of eleigible post-graduate students and none on students to study at technical institutes, the spokesman said. New Zealand took 283 Malaysian students last year. An estimated 1500 or more are studying at New Zealand schools and universities.