Auckland Students Angered At National's 5 Steps
Student leaders at Auckland have reacted in anger at the
government's
policy announcements on tertiary education
today, titled 'Five
Steps Ahead'.
"'Five Steps Ahead'
is nothing more than rhetoric and a branding
and
marketing exercise in election year. It is shallow,
badly
thought through and completely misses the critical
issues in
the sector. It is merely tinkering at the
sides of a sector
in crisis", said Auckland University
Students Association President
Efeso Collins.
"Once
again, the government has failed to address the real
issues
in tertiary education. The Government wants to
have a knowledge
based economy overnight without putting
in the legwork. What
they should be addressing is
rising fees, inadequate staffing
levels, the lack of
universal living allowances and runaway
student debt -
currently at $3 Billion."
The funding announcements today are