Need to restrict foreign students, not NZ ones

10 December 2007

Media Release:

Government action needed to restrict foreign students – not New Zealand students

QPEC is calling on the government for policy change which would enable all New Zealand students who reach the standard for entry to university to be able to enrol.

Today Auckland University’s Council will discuss a proposal to restrict entry to courses to New Zealand students.

QPEC wants a policy change whereby foreign student numbers are restricted to allow New Zealand students to have automatic access to enrol if they meet the standard criteria for entry. This would mean the government providing additional funding to match the difference in university income between foreign students and local students (Local students are subsidised by the government while foreign students pay full fees).

In the meantime we are urging the Auckland University Council to delay voting on a proposal to restrict entry from 2009. This is a whole community issue and needs wide community discussion rather than an arrogant university-only decision.

The groups hardest hit by the restricted entry are students from low-income communities and in particular Maori and Pacific Island students. In restricted entry these are the very students who will be disproportionately represented in the group being turned away.

Our kiwi students deserve the best education we can provide before foreign students are enrolled. This issue goes to the very heart of quality educational opportunities for all New Zealanders.

ENDS

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