In the fine print of the PMs statement there is a bit more light on National’s plans for student loans. As noted on Red Alert last week John Key’s appointment of Steven Joyce as Tertiary Minister was an indication that National had plans in this area. The PM has denied that major changes are afoot, but there are some issues at “the margins”.
But in the PMs statement yesterday we have the following
We will also take a careful look at the policy settings around student support to ensure that taxpayers generosity is not being expolited by those refuse to take their tertiary studies seriously, or who show little inclination to transition from tertiary training into work.
That translates to limits on student support- allowances and loans. It sounds like a time limit on how long it is available or being cut off in the event of failure. If this is the direction this would have serious consequences for participation in tertiary education. It ignores the reality that not everyone succeds right away in tertiary study, and raises questions about post graduate study or second degrees.
This is not tinkering at the margins.
Well posted Grant, expose the lies and corruption my friend.
Keep up the good work, JK has told too many lies that are too transparent, its all about making rich people richer and keeping the workers as an underclass by this National Government.
See you on Tuesday, we will be back with the PSA and the CTU, we Bikers are continuing our ACC campaign be great to see you there again.
We will also take a careful look at the policy settings around student support to ensure that taxpayers generosity is not being expolited by those refuse to take their tertiary studies seriously, or who show little inclination to transition from tertiary training into work.
Grant – they are targeting people that need to be targeted. It is a preferable solution to the sit on your hands and do nothing that labour has done.
Are you saying that labour would leave this ‘as is’ and not investigate that the tax payers dollars are being abused as is the case with some of these people.
and yes – I know you have the story about the person who kept trying, trying, trying who finally passed – but there are loads of stories about professional students who use it as a lifestyle also (the latter ones being the ones targeted).
If they’re cracking down on those freakin perpetual undergraduates that would be tinkering at the margins – not major but worth doing.
Another measure would be how interest free student loans are being exploited – every student should be drawing the ‘living costs’ allowance whether they need it or not.
2c
Speculation speculation, a little pointless but halfway interesting.
Well posted Grant, expose the lies and corruption my friend.
On student loans? What’re you referring to exactly?
I bet they won’t look at the loop hole they have created when they canceled the TIA.
The one where solo parents with children under 3, so are not entitled to 20hrs free childcare, cannot get course related costs as they now have to go only part time. They have to pay for everything out of their benefits. Text books, stationary, chidcare while on placements…
If you going part time you are not entitled to course related costs.
Childcare costs 100 after the childcare sub for 2 children under 2 so they cannot go full time. Benefit covers enough for essentials and nothing else.
StephenR. Another measure would be how interest free student loans are being exploited – every student should be drawing the ‘living costs’ allowance whether they need it or not.
We are not entitled to this either. Not even if they were going full time.
I don’t think they will worry about this though. It would cost money and it would go to Solo Parents, therefore could be looked at as being wrong in the eyes of NZ. Even though you have to pay course related costs back.
We are not entitled to this either. Not even if they were going full time.
I don’t think they will worry about this though. It would cost money and it would go to Solo Parents, therefore could be looked at as being wrong in the eyes of NZ. Even though you have to pay course related costs back.
Solo parents getting help with an education is unlikely to be viewed as ‘wrong’ by anyone, but yes it is made pretty difficult.
There is already a 200 week limit on the Student Allowance. I know I hit it.
Solo parents getting help with an education is unlikely to be viewed as ‘wrong’ by anyone, but yes it is made pretty difficult.
I’m probably being overly sensitive.
Just seems like people receiving the DPB are looked down upon. People were rather happy when the TIA was scrapped which covered childcare. All you had to do was listen to talkback radio or look at online blogs to listen to what they were saying and now they haven’t even thought about the how we could do it.
Looks like there may be further community education cuts coming too.
Last night I attended a night school class (NZ Sign Language) where were told that new criteria had neen introduced for classes funded as part of literacy / numeracy initiatives.
Criteria include a requirement that 80% of students enrolled at the start of classes must attend 100% of classes. Failure to meet this benchmark will result in a funding review and possible withdrawal of funding.
“There is already a 200 week limit on the Student Allowance. I know I hit it.”
Me too (just when I moved out of home too..lol). Luckily I shifted to the living costs part of the student loan seamlessley.
“Just seems like people receiving the DPB are looked down upon. People were rather happy when the TIA was scrapped which covered childcare”
The attitude shown by many in this country really depresses me. The ironic thing is, that most people with those opinions on the talkback would have benefited in some way from the social security system.
Whatever respect I had for Paula Bennett went out the window when she spoke of getting a 3% Housing Corp mortgage at 19. That, combined with the generous abatment rates, and award wages for her waitressing job ensure that the only struggle she probably had was trying to get her childs father to cough up with maintenance or have her during the weekends.
@Ian A
Thats harsh. Always wanted to learn sign and only know the alphabet. Hope to learn it one day.
I hope your class doesn’t get its funding withdrawn
I was hoping that with unemployment growing (figures released do not include those with partners supporting them) that someone would see the sense of retraining our population for when the jobs come back. It wasn’t that long ago that employers were screaming that they could not find staff with the right skills. Some industries still are.
Grant – I hope you also picked up on the other point in Keys speech. IE the “real skills for real jobs” dump all the ‘worthless’ courses in our varsities/techs. You know the BA’s.
There is already a 200 week limit on the Student Allowance. I know I hit it.
And the rules have changed so that you can’t get an extension to go on to postgrad study except in some very specific circumstances – as happened to my husband, who decided to do his master’s thesis partly because he would be eligible to extend the allowance. When he came to enrol for it, a few months later, that was no longer the case.
@Jeremy. Absolutely. There is no doubt that Mr Joyce’s arrival in tertiary education signals they will be making changes. My fear is that the Vice Chancellors and CEs will be bought off by the idea of removing fee maxima, and in return we will see funding disappear from Arts and “courses not relevant to the modern job market” as the speech says.
Villifying students.
Just seems like people receiving the DPB are looked down upon.
I agree with you, Mother. I’m sure there’s not many mothers who thought they’d be raising their kids themselves when they first started out. Those who do look down on someone on the DPB should think about what their own position would be (or the mother of their children if they’re a bloke) if a divorce happened to them.
It would be more accurate if the government, when they are reporting the cost of DPB would report the figure net of child support. For those who don’t know, when a mother is on the DPB, any child support the father pays goes direct to the government.
Would be interesting to see what changes they will make to Student loans. Don’t know if I’m looking forward to it, and it does raises questions about post graduate study or second degrees.
I wanted to branch out after I finish and look at teaching gifted children. Have an avid interest in giftedness and the problems this can bring. Looks like I’ll have to find the money myself to help these forgotten children. Everyone thinks these children will go far in life but that not always the case. They can sometimes just give up as they become board and disruptive if not continually challenged. Would be interesting to see what will happen to them with National standards too. Some do not test well as so self critical that they panic when it comes to tests. Or another concern is that they will be held back to do tests of their age group, which would be a waste of time if they could do it a year before hand but made to to make the school look good, but I’m going off topic. I’ll have to fork out the money myself I think once I’m working and do that part time.
@Bea
It would also help if they didn’t add on childcare subs when reporting it as this is not income. No I didn’t think I would be here by myself after 10yrs together but here we are.
@Spud. Hi nice to see you back, and yes I agree.