Education Bill will crush student services

PSA MEDIA RELEASE

May 26, 2010

For Immediate Use
 

Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill will crush student services

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi (PSA) opposes the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill on the grounds that it will devastate vital services for students and represents undue interference into independent societies.

“It’s somewhat ironic that a bill that seeks to further regulate and interfere with autonomous associations is being sponsored by ACT list MP Sir Roger Douglas. I though ACT stood for less government interference in individuals’ lives”, says PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott.

“This bill argues that having the choice of whether or not to join their associations grants students greater freedom. The reality is students will be worse off if this bill passes into law.”

“Income from membership fees allows student associations to provide a huge range of services such as welfare and advocacy, financial assistance, legal help, recreational clubs as well as social events and sports. Those services cost student associations around the country over $25 million a year, membership fees pay for those services and a drop in membership would crush them”, says Brenda Pilott.

“If tertiary institutions replaced student association services it’s unlikely they could provide them at the same price. Lower overheads and input from volunteers enables student associations to operate at a lower cost so students would have to pay more for services.

“Current legislation allows students themselves to decide whether their association is voluntary or not by way of a democratic referenda. The Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill represents increased regulation that is both unnecessary and undesirable.

“Rather than granting greater freedom to students this bill restricts their ability to provide for themselves the services they need and that enrich their community. It also represents undue interference as the present Education Act provides ample opportunity for students to individually and collectively exercise choice about association membership,” says Brenda Pilott.

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