The TEU is preparing a submission opposing the Act Party’s Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill, which currently is before the Education and Science Select Committee. The Bill seeks to make membership of local students’ associations voluntary. Currently, tertiary students are able to democratically decide themselves whether membership of local students’ associations will be compulsory or voluntary.

TEU national president Dr Tom Ryan says it is worth noting that this Bill has not arisen from any widespread opposition by students to current arrangements for membership of their associations.” 

“The current legislation was written and voted in by the National Party. And since then some student bodies have voted for voluntary membership while many more have voted for compulsory membership.” “ 

When this type of legislation was introduced in Australia the effect on the sector was devastating. The provision of services, participation in cultural, sporting and recreation activities, and the ability for students to be democratically represented in a variety of fora, were all badly undermined.

“TEU has real concerns that not only will students lose out if this bill is passed, but that staff will face bigger workloads and less satisfying jobs. Tertiary institutions will not be funded to pick up the many services that students will no longer offer, so existing staff could end up providing them on top of everything else. Or the job of teaching will simply become harder because students will no longer get the pastoral care and community support that students’ associations currently provide.”

“I’d encourage individual TEU members to go to the NZUSA’s campaign site www.saveourservices.org.nz to sign the on-line petition and fill out a simple individual on-line submission form,” said Dr Ryan.