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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 38, Number 13. 12th June 1975
Shand on Bursaries
Shand on Bursaries
| i) | for University students it provides significant increases over the existing bursaries. These were fully set out in the last issue of Salient, and are particularly importnat for first year students. They, for example, receive an increase from $180 to $468 if living at home, and from $530 to $864 if required to live away from home. Although these increases do not apply until 1976 they are very reasonable. |
| ii) | for all students, it now provides for regular increases based on changes in the cost of living. |
| iii) | for the tertiary sector as a whole it finally recognises the principle that all students shall receive the same weekly bursary regardless of which part of the tertiary sector they are in. The substantial increases which technical Institute students will receive finally give them fair treatment. Payments in all cases are based on the length of the course or academic year rather than being a fixed figure for the year. This is much more equitable than the present system". |
However, the figures given in Salient on the costs of the new Bursary need further elaboration. Salient mentions a figure of $11.629 million as the reduction in student teacher payments, giving an overall saving to the Government from the intorduction of the S.T.B. of $4.277 million. It is important to realise that these figures are based on the assumption that all student teachers opt to receive the S.T.B. rather than the present bonded allowances. Nobody can really assess what proportion of student teachers will opt for the S.T.B. but I would be very suprised if more than 40% would do so, assuming that the bond under the present allowances is not substantially increased. At the other end of the financial scale it is worth noting that should all student teachers opt to remain on the existing system of allowances, the additional cost to the Government of the S.T.B. will be about $5.18 million per year.
Although I am pleased with the provisions in the Budget, there are still two points which require clarification by the Minister.
| i) | what special arrangements are to be made for married students and students with dependents? At the very least married students should each receive the ordinary S.T.B. |
| ii) | to what extent will student teachers be able to exercise a free choice between the existing bonded allowances and the S.T.B.? Any attempt to substantially increase the present bond will negate this freedom of choice and force many student teachers onto the S.T.B., thus reducing their income. |
David Shand