On 21 June Prime Minister Muldoon announced in the Budget that the STB would be replaced by a more restricted Tertiary Study Grant. This involves a fundamental change to the basic nature of financial assistance to tertiary (university and technical institute students.) Naturally one would expect that before such a fundamental change was made the Minister of Education would have discussed it (or at least its features) with those most directly involved and affected — student organisations, teacher organisations, and administrators in the concerned institutions. They surely would have been in a good position to advise the Minister as to the possible implications of such a scheme. Whether the Minister accepted the advice is another question and is not the issue; at least he would have been able to evaluate it.

How the Truth is Distorted

NZUSA was a participant in the cited Steering Committee which has made two (not three) reports to the Minister. Other participants include the New Zealand Technical Institute Students' Association (NZTISA), the Association of University Teachers (AUT), the Vice Chancellors' Committee (VCC), and the Post-Primary Teachers Association (PPTA).

It is a useful exercise to look at the main changes in the proposed scheme compared with the existing one in order to evaluate whether Mr Wellington is accurate or not.

The Steering Committee never discussed or was informed of the proposed Tertiary Study Grants Scheme. And yet at the same time as they were drawing it up, offiicals from the Department of Education (and no doubt Treasury) were participating in meetings of the Steering Committee. Meanwhile when NZUSA has met the Minister personally he never informed them of these proposals.

What Mr Wellington Means by Consultation

When the Minister talks of consultative provess what he really means is that the Government cons relevant organisations into believing that by launching into a thorough investigation of an issue they will be listened to. But this really diverts their attention and he proceeds to secretively make decisions which are contrary to the spirit of the investigation.

But this time Mr Wellington has done more than simply con people. In many respects it has backfired on him because those conned are now aware that they have been conned. They are now aware of what the consultative process really is — a diversionary fraud. Mr Wellington lacks the ability and skill of his predecessor Les Gandar. When Mr Gandar did a con job he did it properly.

Past reviews have been handled differently. Recent examples are the Johnson Report, the Marshall Report, and the Review of Teacher Training. In these cases nothing was done to undermine them during the conduct of them. But in the Review of Financial Assistance for Post-Compulsory Study Mr Wellington undermined it mid-stream. The Review is now likely to collapse. NZUSA has withdrawn in protest — other organisations are likely to follow suit. In de facto recognition of this the Department of Education has cancelled the Review's more immediate meetings.

Mr Wellington's blatant sabotage of the Review has meant that the credibility of him and his Department, have been dealt a severe blow. Many organisations including NZUSA have put a lot of time and effort and resources into the Review. It is questionable whether, they would be prepared to enter into the "consultative process" again.

Basic Level

This is to be $23. The Steering Committee has yet to determine the basic level. But it has never suggested that it should be reduced from the current level of $30. In fact it recommended to the Minister that he should work towards a situation where those students twenty years and older who are abated are placed on the unabated rate ($30 and $33.50.)

Hardship

The proposed hardship system of up to $17 per week was never formulated by the Steering Committee.

Entitlement

The Steering Committee has not recommended any changes to the entitlement for the bursary.

Means-Testing

No proposals have been made on means-testing whether it be parental, income or budget.

Loans

Loans have been rejected as a major financial support system and also if any way they mean a reduction in entitlement.

No such proposals of limiting the amount or scope of the Fees Bursary have been made.

A and B Bursaries

These have yet to be discussed by the Steering Committee.

Appeals Authority

This is still being discussed by the Steering Committee. Although proposed by NZUSA most other organisations appeared to be opposed to it. NZUSA proposed it as a reform to the existing, bursary system, not to the proposed one.

The above cover the major changes. But none of them came from the Steering Committee. The eligibility of full-time extramural students and the applicability of the bursary for semesters and short (full time courses) were recommended but in the context of being reforms to the STB.