VSM Would Encourage More Accountability To Students

The revelation that $1 million in cash and assets has disappeared from Whitireia Polytechnic students’ association is a tragedy which is made worse by the fact that students are being forced to join and pay student association levies rather than having the choice to do so.

My Private Members’ Bill which would make students’ association membership voluntary, would reduce the probability of this occurring in the future. 

This is because associations would have to be more transparent and accountable to students before students would willingly hand over any cash.  Students would expect to be told up front, what services they were getting for their fees.

Poor or low value services = no money from students. 

Whitireia Nursing student Lauren West gave her views on the situation to the ‘Dominion Post’ stating that as a student she feels “it’s unfair that we have to pay this fee and then get nothing from it – it is quite a lot of money for a student.  If I had a choice I wouldn’t pay it.  We have no idea what the money is used for, but hopefully there is a way for us to get out of it paying it next year.”

My hope is that Lauren gets her wish and that my Bill is passed.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/4029881/Students-want-to-know-where-their-fees-went