Govt attacked for not dropping student fee

Press, 27 January 1986, Page 26

Govt attacked for not dropping student fee

PA Wellington The New Zealand University Students’ Association has been criticised the Government for delaying the abolition of the $lOOO annual fee for overseas students. The association also commended the Government’s recognition of education for overseas students as one of the best forms of aid, especially toPacific countries.

“N.Z.U.S.A. is extremely disappointed that the Government has no plans to honour its election promise and abolish the $lOOO annual fee until next year,” said the association’s president, Mr Alex Lee.

He was responding to comments made by the Minister of Education, Mr Marshall, who is at a meeting of education Ministers from Asian and Pacific countries in Brunei. “This fee has caused great hardship to overseas students, many of whose 1 families have made considerable sacrifices to en-

able them to study in New Zealand,” Mr Lee said.

He agreed with Mr Marshall that the proposal to charge cost-recovery fees was likely to cause serious problems. “N.Z.U.S.A. is totally opposed to any Introduction _ of cost recovery fees. Selling education to one

group of students creates a dangerous precedent."

The association wondered how long it would , be before other groups, such as mature students, : had to pay for university.' education. Mr Lee said it wasi important not to blame’ overseas students for! shortages of places on - university courses. ; "Whether or not theGovernment charges full-’ cost fees, the fact remains, that the shortage of places in high-demand courses such as engineering and medicine has been caused by short-sighted planning and cuts in funding by the previous National Governments,” Mr Lee said.