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Education conscious

By David Cropp

Students are becoming much more interested in their own education.

This became obvious at NZUSA Winter Council held at Victoria before Tournament.

Education Commission, sub-committee of Council, was in session for nearly two days.

It considered the individual reports of constituents; accommodation; bursaries; student loans; educational pamphlets; liaison with other interested bodies; the appointment of a paid research officer; and a proposed national education conference.

One interesting aspect was the number of new education officers appearing.

Auckland, Waikato, and Massey Student Associations have recently created specific executive posts dealing with education and Otago will have one early next year.

This means that now all NZUSA constituents have officers concerned specifically with educational affairs.

The reports of each officer outlined the particular problems of each university.

Victoria reported efforts made to end the language requirements for B.A. students.

Lincoln has invoked an unlikely student ally—the Federated Farmers—in attempting to change bursary regulation unfavourable to Dip. Agriculture students.

A report is to be produced on the advantages and disadvantages of various forms of accommodation.

It was felt that the student point of view was often overlooked by the authorities concerned in this field. The report will make student opinion known.

The commission also heard proposals for a national education conference.

This would be along the lines of the recent "Peace, Power and Politics" conference on New Zealand's foreign policy and could possibly be held in May next year.

Although it would involve other groups, A.U.T., P.P.T.A., and combined educational committees the idea of such a conference demonstrates the tremendous growing interest of student organisations in educational matters.