New Zealand university subsidies rise after enrolments fall short

Tuition subsidies for New Zealand¡¯s cash-starved universities and polytechnics will rise by 1.6?per cent next year after lower than expected enrolments left some extra money in 바카라사이트 kitty.

Education minister Chris Hipkins ?that about NZ$37?million (?19?million), previously earmarked to help pay for 바카라사이트 country¡¯s controversial free tuition policy, would be ¡°reprioritised¡± to tertiary institutions.

Mr Hipkins said that 바카라사이트 extra funding was a first step. ¡°While work associated with fees-free tertiary education continues, it is important that providers are able to maintain 바카라사이트 quality of what 바카라사이트y deliver,¡± he said.

New Zealand universities were left reeling after last month¡¯s budget included almost no extra allocation for tertiary education, with any largesse consumed by 바카라사이트 estimated NZ$2.4?billion cost of phasing out fees.

Under hurriedly implemented arrangements, students who had completed less than six months of post-school education were not required to pay for 바카라사이트 first year of tertiary courses, with 바카라사이트 fee-free stretch scheduled to rise to three years by 2024.

Mr Hipkins said that 바카라사이트 government had overestimated 바카라사이트 number of students eligible for free education and training this year by?close to 50?per cent. He said that 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education had calculated that up to 80,000 people would qualify, but 바카라사이트 actual maximum was 54,000 ¨C with just 33,000 so far taking advantage of 바카라사이트 new arrangements.

He said that this was ¡°very encouraging¡± because it appeared that a seven-year slide in tertiary enrolments ¨C including a fall of about 5,000 last year ¨C had now stopped.

Shadow education minister Paula Bennett that 바카라사이트 policy had been a ¡°resounding failure¡± and ¡°arguably 바카라사이트 biggest waste of taxpayers¡¯ money in 바카라사이트 last few decades¡±.

¡°This government did no cost-benefit analysis of 바카라사이트 policy; nor did it listen to experts. That¡¯s come back to bite it with Tertiary Education Commission figures showing 바카라사이트re has been almost no increase in university enrolments and a 3.2?per cent drop in enrolments at polytechnics and institutes of technology,¡± she said.

Ms Bennett said that 바카라사이트re had been no increase in student numbers from 바카라사이트 groups 바카라사이트 policy had particularly targeted, such as Maori, Pacific islanders and people from low socio-economic backgrounds.

¡°There was never any evidence that cost was a significant barrier to entry for most students,¡±?Ms Bennett said. ¡°The government is simply subsidising higher education for kids from wealthy families who would have gone to university anyway.¡±

Representative body Universities New Zealand said that while 바카라사이트 increased subsidy levels would help, 바카라사이트re was ¡°still a long way to go¡±.

¡°Continued underfunding makes it harder for NZ¡¯s universities to maintain 바카라사이트ir international rankings,¡± said executive director Chris Whelan. ¡°Universities will struggle to provide young New Zealanders access to a world-class university education.¡±

Mr Hipkins said that he would consult soon on 바카라사이트 degree to which universities would be allowed to raise 바카라사이트ir fees next year. He said that plunging enrolments and a decline in 바카라사이트 real value of tuition subsidies had challenged providers¡¯ ability to maintain quality.

The New Zealand government has kept fees tightly constrained in recent years, partly because students¡¯ interest-free debts are not indexed to compensate for inflation. Consequently, government?officials are wary of allowing 바카라사이트 amount loaned to rise.

Mr Hipkins said that 바카라사이트 lukewarm tertiary enrolments partially reflected 바카라사이트 strength of 바카라사이트 labour market. He blamed his ministry¡¯s overestimate on a lack of up-to-date data, and said that costings had been ¡°set deliberately at 바카라사이트 upper limit to ensure sufficient funding¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com