Bursary demand

Press, 26 January 1988, Page 5

Bursary demand

The Labour Government is depriving New Zealand of necessary skills by underfunding tertiary education and training, says the University of Canterbury Students’ Association president, Mr Sam Fisher. Mr Fisher labelled as a “farce” the Government’s commitment to social equity and its pledge to develop a skills base for New Zealand. “At a time when the business sector and the community are needing trained young, people in areas such as business administration, computer science, and economics, the Government is providing strong disincentives to students,” Mr Fisher said. The failure of the Government to increase the bursary and the addition of 9 per cent to university tqfcion fees made studying

and training financially prohibitive. The cost of living, including the shortage of cheap accommodation, meant that many people could not afford “the essential skill of learning,” Mr Fisher said.

The bursary had not been increased in line with cost-of-living increases since the 19705.

“The Government is still sending the wrong signals.” Mr Fisher said the proposed introduction of the flat tax rate would make it even harder for many students to afford study.

Students earned less and so paid tax at a lower rate, and would face an increase in tax. Students who survived now on about $6OOO a year would pay an extra $5OO in taxes if the rate were. 25 per cent, Mr Fisher said.