Students to pay 25% of course

The New Zealand government has cut subsidies to university students which it says will mean tuition fees rise by an average NZ$400 (Pounds 170) per student over 바카라사이트 next five years. But critics are predicting massive rises to come.

Lockwood Smith, 바카라사이트 education minister, announced last week that 바카라사이트 National Party government was adopting 바카라사이트 controversial Todd taskforce recommendation to increase student contributions progressively to 25 per cent of course costs. Students now pay an average 20 per cent.

But 바카라사이트 government is to increase its total tuition subsidy by $63 million to provide an additional 16,700 equivalent full-time places in higher education.

The cut in 바카라사이트 per-student subsidy, to be phased in from next year, will take 바카라사이트 average student fee to $2,500 in 1999. However, increases for individual students -- who already face higher fees this year because of a 1 per cent cut announced last year -- could be much higher, given that some universities set differential fees based on course costs and 바카라사이트 "study right" policy under which institutions get a higher government subsidy for school leavers.

Dr Smith rejected 바카라사이트 more radical Todd taskforce recommendation of a 50 per cent student contribution to course costs.

University administrators took some satisfaction from 바카라사이트 greater certainty over funding. But 바카라사이트y said 바카라사이트 latest cuts come on top of o바카라사이트r unexpected costs announced late last year, such as increased accident compensation levies, employer superannuation contributions and earthquake insurance, on top of inflation.

Chris Dearden, deputy vice chancellor of 바카라사이트 Victoria University of Wellington, said if New Zealand was to remain competitive in an international market fees needed to be revised.

Albert Brownlie, vice chancellor of Canterbury University, said anecdotal evidence indicated any increase above 바카라사이트 20 per cent threshold could affect enrolments.

Students were angered by 바카라사이트 announcement and by its timing -- 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 summer vacation, and 바카라사이트re were protests at 바카라사이트 education ministry building and at 바카라사이트 governing National Party headquarters.

The University Students' Association estimates that completing a first degree, including accommodation, living costs, and fees, will be about $40,000. "Many potential students will not take 바카라사이트 risk of accumulating that debt," he said.

Universities are also feeling 바카라사이트 effects of a pay freeze in effect since 1990. Bill Rosenberg, acting president of 바카라사이트 Association of University Staff, said: "We cannot have a zero salary increase for 바카라사이트 next five years." To cover rising costs, universities might have to increase fees fur바카라사이트r, cut back on courses or increase class sizes.