Student tuition fees set at $1250

Press, 8 September 1989, Page 3

Student tuition fees set at $1250

By PETER LUKE in Wellington Tertiary students will have to find $1250 early next year to cover tuition fees — or $1320 if they pay by instalment. But as expected the Government has allowed a total of six categories of students to be exempt from the fee rise on equity grounds.

The exempted students will pay 10 per cent of the new fee — or $125 for a full-time year. The Minister of Education, Mr Goff, said that this was less than the present level of fee paid by most students. Current nominal fees are about $516 a year — but three-quarters of students qualify for a reduced payment of about $l3O. The exemptions, in general terms, cover courses not likely to lead to a high-paying career, all 16 and 17-year-olds, 18 and 19-year-olds on parental income basis, former beneficiaries, research students, and those with dependants. But other students can apply for hardship assistance to their institutions. Those paying the full fee will have the choice of a payment of $1250 at the start of the year, or

paying in instalments of $440 at the beginning of each term. The full criteria to gain the exemptions are: • All 16 and 17-year-old students to put them on parity with peers still at school. • Students who have dependents and who are eligible through the student allowances scheme for income support equivalent to: the level of the adult unemployment benefit. • Students who were social welfare beneficiaries for the previous 12 months and who are not receiving a training incentive allowance. This exemption is to assist an escape from benefit dependence. • Students in basic education and training courses at or below International Standard Classification of Education, level 3. This includes continuing education

courses which do not extend past seventh-form level, most trade certificate courses, technician courses, secretarial courses, pre-vocation courses (Foundation and Bridging) and Access courses. About half of all polytechnic students will be exempt. • Post-graduate research students taking masters or doctoral programmes. A parental income test will apply to 18 and 19-year-old students. Those whose parents combined income is under $26,624 a year will pay only the $125 sum. Fees will be abated to 40 per cent for those whose parental incomes are between $26,624 and $31,095; and to 70 per cent for those whose parental incomes fall between $31,096 and $35,568.

Further report, page 5