Aviation training funding announcement acceptable

21 October 2004

Aviation training funding announcement,'acceptable.'

The announcement of 2005 funding for aviation students was announced by Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Steve Maharey, today.

The news will be a relief for current students who were anxiously waiting the government's decision on funding for aviation training. Funding for aviation training has recently been under scrutiny by the government.

The proposal to fund seven hundred students represents a 10% reduction on the 2004 aviation funding cap. Following 2005 the cap will progressively decrease by 100 students each year till 2007. However, proposed discussion between the government and the aviation industry will confirm the strategic direction of aviation training for the future.

"Whilst there has been a small reduction in the capacity to train aviators for 2005 it is a modest decrease in light of the dialogue which has occurred in this part of the tertiary sector. It does ensure that students currently training can complete their qualifications with government support. The situation could have been much worse and this is an acceptable response from the Minister,' the Aotearoa Tertiary Students Association President, Julie Pettett says.

The government is proceeding with ongoing discussions between TEC and the aviation industry. As representatives of the students whose training will be affected by any future discussion, ATSA looks forward to being party to that dialogue. ATSA support the governments push for further industry involvement in aviation training and trying to balance the difficult issue of funding and strategic relevance in the aviation training industry.

ENDS

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