How Things Have Changed

Nasty. That’s how it’s looking, nasty. Less jobs, limited pay increases and a higher cost of living are piling the pressure on. I don’t want to live that way but a part of me rises, or is forced to rise, to the challenge. Is it time to up-skill, to add or to gain new qualifications? This is a pathway many New Zealanders will consider over the next year.

The pressure on the system that is making us think like this is also impacting on the government. It is likely that there will be changes in the funding of the Tertiary Education Sector, not only because of the change in government. Will these changes be focused on student support? Will they pay attention to social policy as our Vice Chancellor, Steve Maharey, recently advocated?

Organisations like EXMSS should also be changing – and we are. EXMSS has increased its scholarship fund almost threefold for 2009 and will be introducing travel benefits on all campuses for those who attend contact courses. Our advocacy desk has had additional hours allocated and the Student Assistance Programme is ready to help those students who encounter unforeseen financial barriers to study. As President of EXMSS I will be engaging with the Tertiary Education Commission through the Learners Advisory Committee and contributing to the governance of Massey as a member of the University Council, ensuring they understand the difficulties of being a current tertiary student. I will also be working to ensure the EXMSS Maori voice has the opportunity to be heard as the barriers to education re-define themselves over the next few years. As your student union EXMSS is firmly focused on its members’ wellbeing.

The recent advice from the Treasury to the Finance Minister, dismissing the negative consequences of the Student Loan Scheme, could be seen to be advocating for change that will create further financial barriers for tertiary students. Will the capped funding model, introduced by Labour, compromise the open entry concept we have grown used to? Tertiary institutions are now considering how they may cope with enrolments that exceed their funding limits. If the government has no more money for the sector then this could take the form of enrolment criteria – how will this affect our minority groups? It is certainly looking nasty but we can not presume what National will do. There is certainly potential for the National government to re-evaluate the funding for the sector with a positive outcome for both students and institutions.

Considering that change is in the wind I would suggest that in 2009 we have the calm before the storm. The status quo is maintained regarding funding; enrolments are up but in most cases not exceeding the funding limits. For extramural students, who have a lower overall loan burden, the loan scheme as it exists is not an insurmountable barrier and the welfare system has not yet reacted to the new pressures brought about by the developing recession. Perhaps now is the time to study, not because things are particularly good but because things look like they are going to get worse.