The President Said Today

With the academic year now upon us there are many students who are still unsure whether or not they will receive a Standard Tertiary Bursary. That this situation should have arisen is nothing short of disgusting and arrogant. The National Government has had since December to promulgate new regulations in line with its policies (?) but has only just got around to doing so.

Since the end of November, NZUSA has been in contact with the Minister of Education, Les Gandar, trying to get the regulations finalised and circulated to students in time for enrolement. At each turn they have been faced by brick walls, an indication of the way a National Government intends to deal with all potential embarrassments.

NZUSA has pressed Gandar for a chance to consult over any changes to the regulations and over the need to inform all students of what the new regulations would be. At best NZUSA received an acknowledgement of their communications, at worst they were ignored.

Mr Gandar has even gone so far as to deny that he has received certain letters from NZUSA (perhaps Gandar is also a stranger to the truth). What information on the new bursaries has been circulated has been full of inaccuracies and this has only served to confuse students and registry personnel alike.

This whole affair shows that despite the following the accepted means of communication that little or nothing has been achieved. Once again we are faced with a government that has regarded students as a source of electoral support but once the political victory has been won they are no longer important.

This last episode is only the beginning of a new campaign over bursaries. There is still the question of the boarding abatement to be resolved and the time has come for students once again to consider how they can effectively change government thinking. An acceptance of the Student Price Index, as the basis for future increases in the bursary, is one of the next important steps and the time will come when NZUSA and other tertiary student organisations will need to have a strong display of support in order to make government come to the table.

All students must remain aware of what is happening and must be ready to support any new campaign - it will affect you all and it can ultimately only be won with your participation.

- Gyles Beckford