Angry CIT Students Ready to Face Institute

Students at the troubled Central Institute of Technology are concerned that their qualifications are being devalued by the massive cutbacks at the Institute and are preparing to air their concerns at the next CIT Council meeting.

Last week more than 30 CIT staff were axed and students have been told that many of their courses are to be dropped or relocated.

Yesterday student leaders from the Aotearoa Post-compulsory Student Union (APSU) met with concerned CIT student representatives.

"The students have every reason to be angry. They have paid huge fees to CIT and now the Institute is, halfway through the term, sacking some of their best teachers," said David Penney, APSU National President.

"Students want a qualification that means something when they graduate and there is a real concern that the 'restructuring' process at CIT is seriously threatening the quality of their courses."

"Late last month CIT management issued a statement saying CIT is aware of its commitment to students in all programme areas."

"Students now wonder about the value of that commitment when key staff are laid-off and they are told that there are question marks over whether there will any courses left for them to later return to in order to upgrade their qualifications from certificates to diplomas."

"Students have also been disgusted at how the restructuring and redundancy process has been handled. In many cases staff have told about they have lost their jobs just minutes before they were due in class."

"Sadly CIT students and staff are not the only ones affected in the tertiary sector. With restructuring taking place at so many institutes it is clear that tertiary education requires a massive cash injection this budget round," concluded David Penney.

ENDS

David Penney National President Aotearoa Post-compulsory Student Union PO Box 10 191 Wellington New Zealand Phone 04 498 2507 Mobile 025 756 526 Fax 04 499 6554

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