Pupils form group against user-pays

Press, 21 July 1989, Page 12

Pupils form group against user-pays

By

PAM MORTON

Christchurch secondary school pupils have formed an action group to protest against the Government’s plans to introduce userpays into tertiary education. About 60 pupils decided to form the Secondary Students’ Education Action Group after hearing University of Canterbury students talk about the proposed student loans scheme. Under the original scheme, tuition fees for all tertiary courses were to be increased to at least $l5OO a year. Those unable to pay the fees could take out a loan to be paid back after the student had graduated. Since the group’s formation, the Government has modified the scheme, abandoning the loans but retaining increased fees. A spokesperson for the group, Ms Nadine Garrett, said the change to the scheme “has made an

already bad scheme even worse.” “We are deeply concerned that the increase in fees will discourage many secondary school students from going on to tertiary study.” A substantial rise in tuition fees would increase an already considerable financial burden on students, Ms Garrett said. ’’Students at universities are bearing an average debt of $llOO per year, and for those struggling to make ends meet at pre-, sent, an additional $l5OO per year would make continuing their courses a financial impossibility.” Ms Garrett said the Government had been encouraging secondary school pupils to remain at school but was making it impossible for them to go on to university. The group comprises mainly Hagley High School pupils but pupils from other schools would be encouraged to join, Ms

Garrett said. "We didn’t realise that the Government’s plans were going to affect us until the students said that we were the ones who were going to be hit by the changes. “A lot of pupils are disappointed because they do not feel they can go to university if the Government increases tuition fees.” The group will join university students and members of the public in a march tomorrow to protest about the Government’s plans. Speakers at the rally will include representatives of university and polytechnic students, high school students and overseas students. “We will be concentrating our attention on raising awareness among the public and letting the Government know how strongly secondary school students feel about the loans scheme,” Ms Garrett said.