Bursary

Leaked Document Proved Groundless

The proposal from the Department of Education, which was considering fundamental changes to the Tertiary Assistance Grant for tertiary students has been totally dismissed by the Minister of Education, Mr M. Wellington.

The document proposed raising the basic-grant by a few dollars and scrapping the Supplementary Hardship Grant.

The confidential document was leaked by NZUSA who were fearful of its consequences on the current review of the bursary scheme.

Work on the review is being done collectively by NZUSA, the Vice Chancellor's committee and the Education Department.

The review of the TAG scheme is continuing, and with the dismissal of the secret document by Mr Wellington the possibility of arriving at a workable alternative to the current scheme is imminent. Both the Vice Chancellor's committee and the Education Department have expressed concern at the present bursary scheme and are working together with NZUSA towards a complete change.

Next week Salient will carry an update on current negotiations by Brian Small, Education and Welfare Vice President of NZUSA.

Lorna Massof