Students ‘need to know’ fee plans

Press, 26 July 1989, Page 2

Students ‘need to know’ fee plans

By

JENNY LONG

The Government must soon tell tertiary students what fees they will face next year, tertiary institution leaders say.

The student loans versus fees debate must be resolved, so that students and the institutions can plan for next year, says the associate director of Christchurch Polytechnic, Dr Graham Logan. “We need definite information.

“We’re nearly into term three, and many students want to make plans for next year.”

Some students might defer their courses for a year, because of the twin effects of the Government’s promise of increased fees, and the National Party pledge to abolish any new scheme, Dr Logan said.

The polytechnic had many part-time students who were likely to defer their study.

The principal of Lincoln College, Professor Bruce Ross, said the fees decisions had enormous implications for enrolment numbers.

“Our liaison officer tells me that at parents’ discussion evenings at schools, the questions are all about fees, not about courses.

“It’s the wrong empha-

Full-time university students now pay fees of $516 a year, but many receive a fees bursary, reducing their contribution to $129. The Government’s intention that students should pay more for their education has been opposed by students, and by many other people who fear the size of the proposed increase will make it impossible for some groups to attend tertiary institutions. The Government has floated many ways of recouping more from students. The cost a year of a full-time student begins at $BOOO for courses such as arts or law, increasing to more than $15,000 for some science courses.

The latest Government announcement is that students should pay about $l5OO a year, as an “up front” fee, without the option of taking out a Government-guaranteed loan for later repayment.

The Associate Minister of Education, Mr Goff, announced this month that a loans scheme was not likely to proceed, at least for next year. He blamed the students for putting pressure on the banks.