In the past the work of the Education Officer has mainly been in the fields of bursaries and assessment, particularly the former. However in recent years this has also widened to include areas such as teacher training, course work-loads, library facilities, and general university funding.

Bursaries

There are many levels of activity in which the Education Officer must involve him or herself. Primarily, the Education Officer must try and gauge student demands concerning bursary allowances, and then rally support on campus for these demands. This will involve the EO in organising meetings, debates, fortums, discussions at SRC on various questions relating to student allowances. Traditionally, it has also meant that the EO has had to organise a bursaries demonstration in close co-operation with NZUSA and the local Polytech and Teacher's College Students' Associations;

The EO should also attempt to win academic support for student bursary demands. This can be done in close co-operation with the Student representatives on the various university committees ie. the Faculty and Professorial Boards and the University Council. This means supplying the representatives with detailed information on student finances. The Education Officer sits ex officio on the University Bursaries Committee which has traditionally supported student demands.

The EO should also attempt to win public support for the student demands. This means gaining media publicity in the radios, newspapers and TV outlining the very real case of student hardship. It might also mean the distribution of leaflets to other educational organisations, e.g. NZEI, PPTA, NZCEA, The EO must also initiate lobbying at governmental level This mean? means not only inviting MP's to Varsity to explain their positions at student meetings, but also supplying them with detailed information on students' cases.

Assessment

In recent years assessment has tended to be a 'poor sister' in terms of activity, to the bursaries campaign. It is imperative this year that more em emphasis be given to the examination of course content and work load, particularly through articles in Salient, forums, and through individual students raising questions in their classes. Information on various methods of assessment, and support should be given to students who are trying to change their work-load or form of assessment

Again, work on assessment should be carried out in close collaboration with the various representatives on University committees.

The Library

With the increasing erosion of the Library services, the Students' Association and particularly the Education Officer have taken a greater concern in the affairs of the Library. The Education Officer sits, ex officio, on the Library Committee, and can thas exert offical pressure at this level. In 1977 students carried out a survey to ascertain students needs in the Library, and used their findings to convince the Library officials and the University that longer hours were required. Such a campiagn will have to be continued this year in the face of increasing erosion and cuts in spending.

Teacher Training

This is another area, often neglected, but which deserves increased attention in 1979. The EO sits ex officio on the Teaching and Research Committee which looks into this area. The teaching and research department is keen to co-operate with student activitists in promoting concern over the lack of teacher training and any assessment of lecturers effectiveness.

University Funds

With the economic crisis, and change of emphasis away from university to polytech, universities are increasingly finding themselves under funded. It is up to the EO in conjunction with other student officers, to expose areas where departments are suffering, or cuts are made to welfare expenditure, particularly where the student is expected to pay. Later this year the results of the Quinquennial submissions will be announced. It: is highly likely that the EO will have to promote [unclear: vareness] in the campus amongst students as to to what this will mean for them.

Most of the EO's work is done in close co-ordination with NZUSA and, in particular, the Education and Welfare Vice-President and the two Research Officers. As education policy and action are decided at the May and August Councils of NZUSA it is expected that the EO will stand as a delegate to these Councils to act as the Association's representative.

In order to further the EO's campaigns the Association allows an expenditure of $100 for educational activity. This money is controlled by the Education Officer.

As can be seen from this summary of the role of the Education Officer, there is a great deal of hard and varied work involved. In order to carry out his or her work effectively s/he must be try and involve as many other students in the organisational work as possible. Particularly in organising Bursaries and Assessment campaigns it is essential that an action committee, chaired by the Education Officer, be established.