PRESS RELEASE
NZAPEP President Sandra McKersey said she was extremely alarmed to learn that tertiary funding had been approved for
“sing along” courses.
The private sector has experienced rigid capping for the last two year – and it is the government’s stated intention
that this remain in place – it is astonishing that “open slather” had seemed to have been the order of the day for other
sectors of tertiary education.
“We will wait with interest to get the facts,” said McKersey, “but it already seems evident that this has not been an
even playing field.”
“Severe restrictions on the private sector have been imposed, while the public sector has enjoyed unmitigated growth.”
“Our members are deeply concerned that free courses (funded by the taxpayer) has enabled public tertiary organisations
to grow an an unprecedented rate.”
NZAPEP was pleased to note that the Minister of Tertiary Education, the Hon Steve Maharey had asked the Tertiary
Education Commission to take immediate steps to investigate the situation.
ENDS