Govt limits university entry numbers

10 Nov 2009 07:59a.m.

Andrew wrote:

I will have to position myself somewhere between Marko and Manuka. Competition is traditional but we have moved away from that and we should be asking weather it has a place in modern education, Marko. Manuka, no one should have the unfettered right to enter tertiary education. These so-called rights have to be earned by hard work. You should be able to achieve through hard work without having to compete.

04 Nov 2009 02:02a.m.

clau_dos wrote:

I disagree with Maaka. Capping is not a good idea in the sense that only the ‘select chosen’ will actually gain entry. It may maximize competition, but even the mature adult and the student who did not do well at school will risk being excluded. This will mean these universities will use a more selective approach on who did well at school versus those who didn’t and by capping does not necessarily mean better quality education. I’ve been with some really crap teachers in the past, who have done well academically, but were really hopeless at teaching. I think, universities should also examine the lecturers as well. Just this time round will mean that every student in a class will either have received a scholarship school, or did well at high school level and numbers per class could either make the numbers. It is a numbers game about getting more funding from the government; though this also applies to all tertiary learning sectors including private establishments as well, so all numbers need to accommodate for each student to help keep the learning establishments a float. Tom: I must be the only one who doesn’t know that many graduates including lawyers? A trade qualification, like a degree means that you still need to build on your skill level. It doesn’t end at the qualification. Life skills are more important. Alex, the students will have to pay in the end. This comes in at a cost of being employed. My aunt for example, who had a really good job ended paying $700.00 a week back to IRD with only $2?? dollars to live on. This wasn’t voluntary. If I am fortunate to earn that much, I could expect to repay that large sum as well.

03 Nov 2009 08:37p.m.

Tom wrote:

Too many graduates anyway. We have more lawyers per head than anywhere else but the States for example. Tradesmen are short. When we all retire you will be paying your plumber the same as a lawyer. Who says a degree is better than a trade qual anyway. I have employed several graduates and they take 3 to 4 years to be useful then they bugger off. A time served tradesman can do the job immediately.

31 Oct 2009 11:35a.m.

Manuka wrote:

i am currently a student at university and i do not agree with this law everyone has the right to education be it primary secondary or tertiary and that to restrict some from that right is elitist and in equal, people attend university in the hopes of bettering themselves and their life, not all people are as smart as others yet they have the same passion to learn, developing a competitive system in which some are taken and others are not limits the educational growth of our nation and creates a further widening gap amonst edducated and non-educated people

31 Oct 2009 07:38a.m.

Alex wrote:

I support this so long as it prevents bums on seats from entering university, dropping out, and borrowing from the government without any intention of repaying it. I also propose that the caps are only on degrees with lesser value than others (ie an arts degree is not as valuable as an engineering degree).

31 Oct 2009 01:56a.m.

Ann wrote:

Don't they like to claim how they're trying to make it easier for people to get a higher education? I feel as though this government sends too many mixed messages.

30 Oct 2009 09:22p.m.

Marko wrote:

Currently any New Zealander over 20 is eligible to study at university (that's the law) but that doesn't mean it's a good idea for everyone to get a university degree. Capping numbers to university is entirely sensible. Yes, it will introduce competition for places (oh no, what will happen to a person's self-esteem if they miss out? we can't have competition because someone's feelings might get hurt, even if competition is actually healthy for them and is what happens in the real world). Capping numbers will also mean universities can focus on delivering high quality education rather than following the previous business model that essentially encouraged universities to compete with each other and try to recruit as many students as possible. Consequently universities encouraged students to go to university not because it was good for the student or the country but because they got more funding from the government for every student that enrolled. This move is overdue.

30 Oct 2009 09:04p.m.

kiki wrote:

if you restrict me or my children from a tertiary education then give the tax back that is taken from us and used to fund these things we maybe denied from.

30 Oct 2009 09:00p.m.

ingrid wrote:

Gus, you are an idiot, David you are completely right and Jim you are missing the point.

30 Oct 2009 02:25p.m.

Jim wrote:

David
Got your point. When I said Electrical Engineering I was referring to the University Degreee our Electrical / Mechanical Engineers had to get in the Engineers Division of the NZ Post Office as opposed to the more common trades standard to be an Electrician. They were then bonded to the Post Office for 5+ years once they achieved it!!!