Education figures not comparable says minister

The amount spent on tertiary education and new spending on administering it cannot be compared, says Tertiary Education Minister Steve Maharey.

National MP Simon Power yesterday released figures that showed spending on tertiary education administration had climbed by a third since 2001 while the student component had risen 7 per cent.

Mr Maharey had provided the figures in response to written parliamentary questions from Mr Power, who said they showed the Government preferred to spend its money on bureaucracy rather than on students.

Mr Maharey's spokesman said about $1.9 billion a year was spent on subsidising teaching and research while an extra $23 million to $25 million was being spent on administration changes.