Recently I was put on the Managed Enrolment Working Party (MEWP) as the student representative. The MEWP was established by the University to assess issues that would arise if limited entry to 100 level papers was introduced, and provide solutions to many of these issues.
These include the proposition of a process and methodology by which the University will be able to enact selective entry on a “clear and equitable” basis from 2011 (or 2010, though unlikely) onwards. The Managed Enrolment Policy (which allowed this process to begin) was passed in June 2008 at University Council, nevertheless both student representatives on Council; including 2008 President Joel Cosgrove and your trusty little student magazine Salient seemed to let it slide without much controversy.
Students needed to know that this was on the agenda and now looks to be implemented in the near future. Limited entry may sound like a good thing to some people, and granted, I can see the wider economic and political context in which we (and the University) find itself in. However, in saying that, the supposed ‘solution’ to the University’s financial woes in ‘managed enrolment’ severely cripples accessibility to tertiary education.
Sure, there are measures being proposed, similar to that of Auckland University (who recently introduced limited entry), to increase equity for ‘under-represented’ groups—namely prospective Māori and Pasifika students. Don’t get me wrong, I wholeheartedly support this, and believe there should be further support for such students. However, I find it quite a tokenistic approach that appears to allow the University to feel less guilty about what they are doing (in terms of equity, at least).
That is a crime. It’s quite tragic. There’s no reason why every person in New Zealand shouldn’t have the opportunity to study at Victoria University of Wellington. Education is a right, not a privilege. Education fuels our society, it makes it stronger in every way, and since everyone seems to listen to anything that has to do with money, I’ll remind you that it’s good for the economy, too. New Zealand certainly needs to improve its career services for young people, so they are set on the right track post-secondary education. The system as it stands is not perfect, but limited entry will only make it worse—for everyone except the privileged.
Let it be noted, too, that this is a problem not so much with Victoria University, but with the Government, and their priorities (or lack thereof). Thanks, Tolley.
If you want more information contact the VUWSA Education Team at evp@vuwsa.org.nz . Also, if you are interested in this issue, see this recent article from the NZ Herald.
Freya Eng
Vice President (Education)
04 463 6988 • evp@vuwsa.org.nz
www.vuwsa.org.nz