Bursary plan under attack

Press, 27 October 1982, Page 39

Bursary plan under attack

Wellington reporter The new bursary scheme for tertiary student’s for 1982 "contains a grotesque anomaly which will make it a complete farce," according to the president of the University Students Association. Mr Brian Small. However, the Minister of Education. Mr Wellington, who spent 45 minutes with association representatives, dismissed Mr Small’s comments as "posturing." The meeting had been amicable. had covered a number of subjects, and had not been conducted in the tone Mr Small's subsequent outburst suggested, he said. He supposed Mr Small had to convey to students that he was doing his best for them. In fact, there was $9 million extra in the 1983 bursary, and he had received

a lot of supportive mail over the bursary structure, Mr Wellington said.

Mr Small said that he had been seeking access to the third-tier hardship grant of the new three-tier system for students who were unemployed or on low savings over the summer. The Minister had said

there would be no assistance at all for these students in his new bursary scheme. This was another “despicable first" for the Minister, Mr Small said. All previous schemes had allowed students in this situation to apply at least for partial compensation.

This new edict meant effectively that the Minister had destroyed the whole philosophy behind bursary assistance to students. The tertiary bursary was supposed to be a “grant-in-aid" and not a living allowance; a small supplement to holiday savings.

The Minister had acknowledged that the jobs were not there for students this summer, but had refused to help, Mr Small said.