Govt ‘not convinced’

Press, 31 October 1981, Page 11

Govt ‘not convinced’

PA Dunedin University of Otago representatives have failed to convince the Government that the university has an urgent problem of falling student rolls — in spite of support from the Mayor of Dunedin and local members of Parliament. The Vice-Chancellor, Dr R. O. H. Irvine, told a University Council meeting that he had received a letter from the Minister of Education (Mr Wellington) but that it did not contain good news. Dr Irvine said the university had asked that the Government consider such steps as a travel subsidy for students from northern centres, modification of the tertiary study grant, and additional support for the halls of residence. Mr Wellington’s reply said

that Otago students had received more from hardship grants than students in other universities, 80.7 per cent of applications from Otago students being successful, compared with 65 per cent at the University of Canterbury. Otago topped the list, with Lincoln College, with an average of $14.20 in hardship grants a student a week. “We would not dispute this,

i indeed it would be expected i as 70 per cent of opr students : come from outside Dunedin and many travel consider- • able distances,” Dr Irvine i ■ said. 1 > “Our argument was that i • Otago students are receiving I i less in 1981 than they did in | ! 1980. The Minister did not i - refer to this point.” i ’ In 1979, the last year of the 1 I old bursary system, 4283 ‘

Otago students ■ received a total of $4.8 million — an average of $1123 a student. : Last year, 4513 students 1 received a total of $5.4 ■ million — or $l2Ol a student. • This year, 4311 students ; received an average of $1147 ' each, a total of $4.9 million. I The Minister had nothing I to offer in the way of travel ' subsidies or additional sup- I port for the halls of resi- I

dence. But the Minister- had said that he thought it would be I helpful for the council to i note that the Government had no intention of allowing plant, equipment, and accommodation at Otago to go under-used while adding to the stocks of the same in i Auckland. ‘ ;