Press release

For immediate release

COMMENT ON BUDGET

15 June 2000

Tertiary Institutions could spoil Fee Freeze

The National Student Unions are predicting some tertiary instituions will choose to put up fees rather than take the 2.3% Government funding increase following today's Budget annoucement.

The Government today allocated an extra $30.5 million to encourage tertiary institutions to voluntarily freeze fees in 2001 at 2000 levels.

"For the first time the Government has provided incentives for institutions not to hike up student fees to whatever level they like, as was the tradition for the last ten years under the previous Government," said David Penney and Sam Huggard, National Student Presidents.

"We certainly applaud the Government's move, as this represents the first step in reinvestment in tertiary education from any Government for over a decade," said Sam Huggard, New Zealand University Students Association Co-President.

"We have real fears that the $30.5 million will not be enough for some tertiary institutions and this will inevitably lead to the same old story of massive fee hikes at some universities and polytechnics," said David Penney, Aotearoa Post-compulsory Student President.

"Tertiary institutions have become accustomed to reaching deep into students' pockets for extra revenue. Since 1992 student fees have increased by an average of 13% a year, and for some fee increases may prove to be a habit that is too hard to break," said David Penney.

"We believe that if the Government is serious about honouring its fee stabilisation commitment, it should introduce fee regulation and force tertiary insitutions not to hold fees," said Sam Huggard.

ENDS

For more information contact:

David Penney

APSU President

04 498 2501 025 756 526

© Scoop Media