Waikato University Increases Domestic Fees Again

Waikato University Increases Domestic Fees Again

The University of Waikato council voted today for an up to 5% or 3.42 percent average increase in domestic fees for 2006. This is the third year the University has increased its fees after the fee maxima policy.

"It is outrageous that the University has approved another fee increase when the student numbers are decreasing and when there is a perception among students that the quality of education they received this year is not satisfactory , despite the University arguing that last year's fee increase would improve quality", said Shiju Pushpamangalam, Waikato Students' Union President.

"Students are annoyed that the University administration has failed to deliver quality and effective education due to staff strikes, recent redundancies and reduction in several services, and are still raising fees"

"This University should not be using students to balance their books. The University spends far too much student money on fruitless marketing despite no academic proof that this works and no measures of whether or not it is successful"

"Waikato University has once again decided to take the easy road to penalise their students and their families who are already saddled with huge student debt to cover their deficit. Students call on the University and government to sort out funding issues increasing funding for tertiary institutions to avoid any such increase in future"

Shiju Pushpamangalam, President of the Waikato Students' Union and Materoa Dodd, the representative of Te Ròpu Manukura voted against the fee increase.

ENDS

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