Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Bill targets non-academic tertiary fees

Updated at 5:46 pm on 31 March 2011

The charging of compulsory non-academic fees at tertiary institutions is to be made more transparent, with new legislation being introduced to Parliament.

A review has found that tertiary education providers have made significant increases to student services levies in the past few years, and Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce says he's not convinced they have all been fair to students.

He says sometimes the funds from levies have gone towards core services such as building maintenance, which he says should be covered by tuition fees.

The new legislation - to be introduced in the next two weeks - will allow the minister to issue directions about what services can be funded by the fees.

Information about the services will also have to be made available to students.

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