Student claims refuted

Press, 8 October 1988, Page 2

Student claims refuted

PA Wellington The Government has ridiculed claims by university students that it has “done everything possible to undermine educational opportunities for young people.” The Associate Minister of Education, Mr Goff, said claims by the president of the University Students’ Association, Mr Andrew Little, were “absolute nonsense.” Mr Little was responding to the University Grants Committee’s announcement recommending an 80 per cent price rise in university fees next year.

The fee increase would be the largest experienced in New Zealand and would raise fees from $2BB to $516 a year. All seven university councils are expected to discuss the recommendation before the end of the month. Their decisions require University Grants Committee approval and the committee expects the university councils to agree to the recommendations.

“The last four years have seen the most rapid expansion of tertiary education in recent history,” Mr Goff said yesterday. “Since 1984, full-time equivalent

training places in polytechnics have increased by 14,000 or 63 per cent. Places in universities have increased 7400, or 18 per cent, and in teachers colleges 1900, or 70 per cent.

“Any claim that the record represents an undermining of opportunities is grossly misleading and lacking in credibility,” Mr Goff said.

With the new income support system for students announced earlier this year, students had also gained the biggest increases since the system of tertiary assistance was established, he said.