Secondary teachers get behind VSM bill protest

28 September, 2011

Steven Joyce has the power to stop the voluntary student membership (VSM) bill, or at least alter it to save tertiary student’s essential support services and quality of education, according to PPTA president Robin Duff.

“Students are growing increasingly frustrated and appalled that the government is ignoring their voices on these issues,” he said.

“Student’s should be able to choose the way in which they are represented, and not have ACT Party ideology forced on them.”.

Duff said protests in Auckland, Otago and Wellington in the last two weeks highlighted opposition to the VSM bill.

“In telling students to ‘keep their heads down,’ Mr Joyce needs to stop this bill which will continue the erosion of the tertiary education system.”

“It will be a disaster for current tertiary students and secondary students looking to head into tertiary studies if this bill passes tonight,” he said.

“At the very least, the implementation of this bill needs to be pushed out until 2013 because associations have already made budgets and universities will also need time to adjust. It is unreasonable for VSM to go ahead on such a short timeframe.”

ENDS

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