Current Budget announcements for tertiary education show that public money will be poured into politically correct schemes which won’t address the most pressing needs, according to youth group ACTivists.

“The majority of students will be outraged that with so many urgent needs in tertiary education, Government’s focus is on small special interests” said ACTivist President, Gavin Middleton.

“About 20% of last year’s grants from the Tertiary Education Strategic Change Fund have been used to buy off Auckland institutions. While some money is being spent on areas like information technology, where our tertiary institutions desperately need to play catch-up, much of the boost will be wasted on politically correct garbage like Fale Pasifika buildings at Auckland University.”

“Real strategic change is about equipping institutions, staff and students to meet the needs of an evolving society. It’s not about pork-barrel funding to buy votes in election year” Mr Middleton said.

“ACTivists were hoping to see forward-looking policies like performance bonuses and professional development for teachers and lecturers, more flexibility in the student loan scheme and greater transparency in how university research is funded.”

Mr Middleton said “it’s telling that the Strategic Change Fund, which has $35million to give out in election year, will get less than a third of that amount next year.”

ENDS

For more information, contact:
Gavin Middleton
(+64) (021) 505495
president@activists.org.nz
http://www.activists.org.nz

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