11. Hon MARYAN STREET (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister for Tertiary Education
Has she received any reports on the impact of funding announced in Budget 2009 on tertiary students?
Hon ANNE TOLLEYHon Maryan Street Link to this
Has the Minister seen reports from Canterbury University, which is being forced to restrict entry to second-year courses as a result of a $17 million funding cut in this Budget; if so, how does she think this will contribute to upskilling New Zealand’s workforce and taking New Zealand “aggressively” out of the recession, as the Prime Minister promised?
I say to that member that institutions such as that university already restrict entry to some courses. In fact, when that member was Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, her Government was unable to fund institutions so that they were able to accept every student into every course, and that was in much better economic times than we are facing now. During these tough economic times, this Government is acting responsibly and ensuring that there is quality investment in high-quality tertiary education.
Aaron GilmoreI am very proud of the initiatives that this Government has funded through Budget 2009. They include the voluntary bonding scheme for the health, veterinary, and education sectors in order to help to get those professionals into hard-to-staff areas. They include a voluntary repayment bonus to help graduates to pay off their debt sooner. They also include a commitment to meet the universities on a dollar for dollar scheme of $4 million for a summer internship scheme to give students paid work over the summer.
Mr SPEAKERBefore I call the Hon Maryan Street—and I apologise for interrupting her—I say to the front-bench members on both sides that I do not mind interjections that relate to the question that is being answered. But where we have interjections to each other continually being shouted across the front benches, interjections that are actually quite nasty and that I do not think are very helpful to this House, I ask members on both sides to cease that behaviour. It is very discourteous to members who are either asking or answering questions.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
Does she agree with the import of the following quotation: “Damn the Nats who bring cuts to our education system make us pay for them out of our student loans that will take many people decades to pay off.”; if not, has she taken up the issue with the author of that statement, the president of the Albany Students’ Association in 1996, Paula Bennett?
That member might like to study the Budget carefully, because the increase for tertiary education rises from $2.66 billion in 2008-09 to $2.78 billion in 2009. I think that student would now be saying “Hurray for the Nats.”
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. We have had a discussion about this previously. I think the member has made an error. The increase could not be—
The member knows he cannot dispute an answer by way of a point of order. It is simply not provided for. He can ask a supplementary question that puts the Minister on the spot over some information she has given in an answer. That is the way to handle the issue: to ask a supplementary question about it.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
Why has she refused to front up to the New Zealand University Students Association conference that is being held in July of this year, and is that because the effective cuts to tertiary education, including the axing of $98 million worth of scholarship funding, have “resurrected financial barriers to tertiary education”, as the association claims?
I would say to that member that she probably needs to get her facts straight. I have not refused to front up. Perhaps she might like to check with the association as to who is actually appearing at the conference.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
Was the Minister serious when she suggested in response to an earlier supplementary question that tertiary funding had increased by $2.66 billion, or was she just confused?
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Tēnā koe, Mr Speaker. Kia ora tātou. What programmes will be considered as a part of the higher priority provision, as discussed in Budget 2009, for tertiary students in adult and community education, and what consultation process will be undertaken with Māori stakeholders on these priorities in order to maintain the momentum of Māori gaining a kick-start from these educational initiatives to get into higher learning?
Higher priority provisions will be courses that focus on literacy and numeracy and on other foundations skills that offer good staircasing opportunities for future training and employment. I have already had a number of discussions around this with the wānanga about how they can continue to boost Māori participation in higher learning. In fact, I have a meeting with them this week to discuss those very issues.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Has the Minister read the PricewaterhouseCoopers report that concluded that community-based education has an estimated economic benefit of up to $6.3 billion annually; and does she agree that adult and community education is likely to have one of the highest added values in economic terms, as it is largely focused on improving people’s productive lives through learning?
Yes, I have seen that report. But the advice I have received is that the courses on literacy and numeracy and on the foundation skills do the heavy lifting in terms of producing the economic benefit from community-based education. That is why the Government is going to prioritise its spending in those areas, and not on courses that teach people hobbies such as concrete shell mosaics, and Moroccan cooking.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
I seek leave to table a copy of “Prez Talk” from Satellite, which is the Albany Students’ Association magazine, with the quotation from Paula Bennett to which I referred.