University fee rise signalled

Press, 27 July 1988, Page 8

University fee rise signalled

PETER LUKE,

By

political reporter A greater students’ contribution to their university education has again been signalled by the Associate Minister of Education, Mr Goff. After a two-hour meeting with university vicechancellors he emphasised a need to broaden the base of university funding, given recent enrolment increases.

The Government had given real funding increases in recent years, but even this would not meet the potential demand, said Mr Goff.

The student level of contribution would have to be looked at, he said. Students at present paid less than 1 per cent of their average teaching costs of $B5OO. “I believe that rather than maintain a small number of people in a much more privileged position, a greater contribution would enable us to broaden aceess to universities and polytechnics by a wider number

of people.” Mr Goff has recently floated the idea of a “graduate tax” — by which students might pay up to 20 per cent of their teaching costs through a 2 per cent tax after graduation. He said that students were part of the youth support package which was far more generous than other countries’ measures, and graduates’ top level of income tax would soon be dropping to 33c in the dollar. These factors justified re-examining the commitment students were required to make to course costs, he said. Options to widen the basis of university funding would be discussed in the context of the Hawke committee on postcompulsory education and training, which is due later this month. The chairman of the University ViceChancellors’ Committee, Dr Wilf Malcolm, yesterday welcomed the concept of widening the basis of funding.