Discriminatory Fees

4 views

Last term Salient interviewed some Malaysian students with the aim of finding out if there is any truth in in Mr Muldoon's allegations that most of those affected by the $1500 increase in fees will be able to afford it because they come from wealthy families. As expected, the replies we got showed up Muldoon's statements for the myth they are.

Just how hard-up are the Malaysian students in NZ?

Student A: 1st year BSc.

1.	Father — worker in a coconut plantation. Not a stable job or a steady income. He only gets paid when there is work. Average $NZ220 per month. Mother — housewife. Nine in the family. Two in secondary school, the rest working.
2.	I came here at the expense of my younger brother's tertiary education. My father sends me enough to to get by on. We are not allowed to get a part-time job in NZ, unless it's in the summer holidays.
3.	It's cheaper than other overseas universities. It is not easy for non-Malays like myself to get into university at home because the places are reserved for Malays. It is much easier to get a job with a degree.
4.	I got the shock of my life because I wasn't prepared for the fees increase. If I had to pay the extra next year I wouldn't be able to come. It is a nasty measure because in the end education will become the privilege of the rich.

If I had to pay the extra fee next year, I wouldn't be able to come.

Student B: 1st year BA.

1.	Father — Government official — about $NZ300 per month. Mother — housewife (Lower-middle income bracket. Living expenses are almost the same here as at home!) Five in family, one working, three in high school who are all hoping to come to NZ to study.
2.	My father borrowed about half my initial expenses from relatives. Mother does dress-making to help with expenses. I will have to work in the holidays.
3.	It's cheaper to come here. I like NZ. In my state (Sarawak) at home there is no university, and in East Malaysia they are usually in English because the towns are colonial. It's much harder to get into an East Malaysian university because they don't have the national language. I wouldn't be able to get into a local university because I don't have the language qualification. A degree gives you so much more chance of getting a job, although it is still hard.
4.	I'm not surprised about the fees because all the other countries increased theirs. My brother wouldn't be able to afford to come here next year if he could get in. So I will try my hardest to fight.

My brother wouldn't be able to afford to come here next year.

Student C: 1st year Diploma in Teaching English.

1.	Father — died. Mother — bit of part-time work, she depends on support from my brothers.
2.	I have paid for myself fully from savings and I get family contributions. I had to work for three years to save enough to get here.
3.	I came to NZ because I can afford it as it's cheaper than other overseas places. My savings wouldn't take me to England and they don't offer the same course at home. This qualification is not really recognized at home but I'm doing it because I want to improve my teaching. There's so much to learn and I want to continue learning; even do another course.
4.	I think the imposition of fees is not justified. I feel very sad because I've saved so hard to come and now I'll probably have to go back — $1500 is very hard to earn back home. In my first year working my whole salary was about $NZ1200 — so you can see how long it would take to save up the fees. If I decide I want to do another course here next year I won't be able to afford the fees increase. Most students, especially the poorer ones, try very hard to get into the local universities first. (Some don't even have this chance even if they've got the potential ability because their families are so poor they have to go out and work to help support them.) But the competition to get into universities at home is very hard — last year only 23% of applicants were accepted. When students are rejected at home, the next alternative is overseas — and even then there are many who don't make it because the competition is also very great. Although NZ is cheaper it is not easy to enter. The few who come here are lucky. Many can't pass the Latos test. The large majority of overseas students come from middle and lower income groups, and they usually have to work, get money from their parents or borrow to get there. I have friends who've come here on a loan. One of my friends will have to pay $4300 NZ back once she graduates.

I feel very sad because I've saved so hard to come and now I'll probably have to go back.

Many students don't even have the chance to apply at home because their families are so poor they have to work to support them.

Kiwi Student: 2nd year B.A.

Comment: I believe there should be equal opportunity for all students to a full education, if they so desire, everywhere.

In New Zealand, access to tertiary education is easy for the more wealthy and a vain hope for the majority of working class or lower income families. Thus the present system already denies the full development of the rich potential of our people's diverse talents — our most valuable human resource.

In Malaysia it is worse. Therefore it is our duty to do as much to help them in their plight as we can. We shouldn't allow the Government to use the overseas students as scape-goats for the current economic crisis and resultant political unrest. Is it too much for New Zealanders to sacrifice the pittance that the Government can realistically hope to save through the imposition of the fees increase, so that a few Malaysian students can get an education that will enable them to help the people of their country to a better life? I think it's the least we can do.