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Students outraged at Polytechnic governance change

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Fri Nov 20 2009 13:00:00 GMT+1300 (New Zealand Daylight Time)

Students outraged at Polytechnic governance change

NZUSA - New Zealand Union of Students' Associations Friday, 20 November 2009, 2:51 pm
Press Release: NZ Union of Students' Associations

Students outraged at Polytechnic governance changes

Student representatives are outraged at today’s release of an Education and Science Select Committee report on a Bill which will fundamentally alter the nature and quality of Polytechnic Councils.

“The Select Committee heard many strong and convincing arguments demonstrating the flaws and complete inappropriate nature of what was being proposed, and to have this not only ignored but the Bill now made significantly worse is appalling and totally unacceptable”, said Jordan King, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA).

The Education (Polytechnics) Amendment Bill will see the longstanding dedicated positions for student, staff, industry and community representatives on the Councils of Polytechnics and Institutes of Technology abolished.

“Across the education spectrum, there is a wide acknowledgement and appreciation of the contribution of student representatives at council levels. Students are the key stakeholder in education and therefore should have a say in the educational direction and quality of their educational institutions” said King.

“The complete lack of consultation on the Bill at all, and now this total disregard for representative governance is an attack on Polytechnics and the student voice within the sector”, said Blair. “This will have an extremely negative and long term impact on Polytechnics and is a very worrying development”, said King.

“Students will not let this matter lie and the Government can expect strong opposition should this Bill make it into law,” concluded King.

ENDS

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NZUSA - New Zealand Union of Students' Associations

NZUSA - New Zealand Union of Students' Associations

We stand for opportunity, for all.

NZUSA is the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations, the national body that represents New Zealand's students' associations and the interests of New Zealand's 400,000 students at universities, polytechnics and in trades training.

We conduct original research, advocate to Government and through the media, and support New Zealand's students' associations to be more effective on behalf of their members. We advocate alongside Te Mana Akonga – The National Māori Students' Association, and Tertiary Women New Zealand – The NZUSA Women's Caucus.

Since 1929, we've believed in a society rich in opportunity, where anyone from anywhere can become any thing. We support accessible, affordable quality public tertiary education.

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