“Like the All Black selectors, TEAC forgot to talk to the players when they discussed student support initiatives,” said
Keith Clark, National President of the Aotearoa Tertiary Students Association (ATSA). “It appears that time constraints
were against TEAC because this particular section is badly flawed and students should have been consulted. This section
apart, the report is generally well researched and well considered,” said Clark.
“ATSA is disappointed that such an august group would perpetuate the myth that students would borrow money under the
student loan scheme to invest.
This ‘arbitrage’ suggestion seems straight from the pages of Harry Potter. Perhaps someone like commissioner Sir Hugh
Fletcher could take $150 per week for part of a year and make a fortune. However, the average student cannot, will not
and wouldn’t bother,” stated Clark.
ATSA has strong reservations with some areas but supports the overall general directions expressed. “TEAC have generally
adopted a practical approach based on how to do the national best with no increase in funding to the sector,” said
Clark.
TEAC have recommended that the Government reintroduce what is essentially funding caps when taken with its other
mechanisms in place. It is clear that competitive market forces do not produce efficiencies from a national perspective
in the tertiary education sector. These TEAC recommendations should provide the drivers for the Government’s
comprehensive strategy. Possibilities now exist for initiatives in areas like work force planning, cooperative research
ventures and student oriented initiatives.
“The emphasis on sector cooperation will prove beneficial to students, staff, institutions and the Government,” said
Clark. “Given the changes and ongoing reviews to the tertiary sector over the last fifteen years we hope that this is
the last of it. Compliance costs for ongoing reviews is non education focused money going down the drain.”
ENDS
ATSA congratulates the TEAC members for a tough job that has been done pretty well under very tight time constraints.
ENDS