Thursday, September 23, 2004
Step Up & Represent, Minister
Students today welcomed the Minister of Tertiary Education's comments recommending tertiary institutions keep potential
fee increases "*as low as possible" (23 Sept).
However, OPSA challenges the sincerity of these comments without adequate state funding for tertiary institutions.
"We thank Maharey for his supportive comments, but they are mostly meaningless crocodile tears without adequate funding
to actually keep fee increases low." said OPSA President, Rachel Dibble.
OPSA also questions the Minister's tacit permission to institutions to increase fees.
"This government promised to keep education affordable, but education is already too expensive - Mr. Maharey should be
talking about fee decreases" said Ms. Dibble.
Mr. Maharey was invited by several students' associations to attend their institutions fee setting meetings over the
next few months. However, Mr. Maharey declined these invitations claiming that fee setting was the responsibility of
institutions.
"It is all very well for the government to claim institutions are responsible for setting fees, but at the end of the
day it is government underfunding that ultimately dictates fee levels" said Ms Dibble.
OPSA calls for the government to take responsibility for the cost of tertiary education.
"Government should step up to the responsibility of setting tertiary fees nationally rather than passing the buck to the
institutions." said Ms Dibble.
ENDS
.