Alliance Party Education Policy (Tertiary)
Preamble
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Before 1990, New Zealand’s public tertiary education system was practically free, and 90% of students received an allowance. Labour introduced a flat $1250 fee in 1990 and fees have risen ever since.
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New Zealanders have borrowed well over $9 billion under the Student Loan Scheme since it was introduced by the National Government in 1992.
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More tertiary qualified New Zealanders than any other nationality have chosen to migrate. Many of these have left to earn big salaries to help pay off their student loans.
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Young people from low-income families, Maori and Pacifica are under represented in tertiary education.
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Students who do not receive an allowance during the year and who cannot find work over summer do not qualify for an Emergency Unemployment Benefit. Many students work long hours during term time, which impacts on their studies and participation in student life.
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Whatever system of tertiary education we have, somebody has to pay for it. Since 1989 successive governments have shifted more of this cost onto students, while higher earners benefited from tax cuts.
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Education is not an optional extra to be put to one side until “economic growth” allows. It is a commitment to social justice, open and free access to knowledge, and genuine democracy.
We stand for the following policies:
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Removal of tuition fees.
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Abolition of the Student Loans Scheme and the immediate writing off of all loans.
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A living allowance for all students at the level of the Unemployment Benefit.
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Increased funding for public tertiary institutions, especially regional polytechnics, and provide adequate funding for libraries.
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Cutting funding to private, profit-making tertiary providers.
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Prioritising New Zealand public tertiary institutions over multinational education providers.
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Hi,
I completely agree with all the points that you have laid out here, as well as other Alliance policies that I have read. However, I’d really appreciate it if you would clear up a point for me.
While education should be free for all those who want it, Im not convinced that providing allowances for living is the best policy. I can imagine many people enrolling at universities as students simply to take advantage of the free accommodation, without actually benefiting from the education. As a full-time student myself, it makes more sense to me to replace student allowances with zero tuition fees, and keep student loans for living costs; it stops people taking advantage of the system and encourages us to stay in New Zealand and use our educations for the benefit of our economy as we pay our debt off.
How do you respond to this? Thank you for your time, best luck for the election
Hi Bruno. That is a good question. The approach that the Alliance takes is that we don’t believe that education costs should be borne by the individual student. That goes for fees and living costs.
There may be a few people who take advantage of free allowances, and slack off, but we are confident the great majority will as always be responsible. Students used to receive allowances in the past, in New Zealand. In fact, the very politicians who passed the laws making education more expensive for younger people, are the ones who benefited most from the old system!
Also, if the Alliance was in a position to implement these policies, it is obvious there would have been a bit of a shift in the mindset of many people.
People would as a whole be more interested in contributing – as you are – and it would become socially unacceptable to have the “what’s in it for me” attitude.
For some students from less well off backgrounds, who may be averse to debt, the idea of debt may scare them off going to further education. Also there is a question of fairness. Why should some students with wealthy and supportive parents be provided with advantages that less wealthy families (or non supportive families) do not provide?
We simply disagree that debt should come along with education. An educated population is the best guarantee for a viable future for New Zealand.
This can be paid for by progressive taxation – once you have your education, there is an expectation that you will contribute back to your society through paying your share of tax. This is quite different from the self-interest approach that is promoted currently, but we believe that a social contract between generations and between the community (we help you to maximize your potential, you contribute back when you are in a position to do so) is the best way.
Thanks for your interest, let us know if you have any other questions. (Oh, and if you want, please join us – unless we have some more members this is also just going to stay a good idea!)
Hi, at Bruno, if students had to work to earn enough to live on by working, they wouldnt have enough time to study and there would be a lot less people studying, therefore less high earners in the future, therefore less going into the economy. Students would just go overseas. Anyway, I have a question, when you say you’re going to abolish the Student Loan Scheme, would there be something going in its place, or will it mean having to save before you study?
Hi Shar, the Alliance would wipe the existing student debt, and have no fees for tertiary education, thus no loans. Also a universal living allowance for all students.
This may sound radical. But actually, it isn’t. New Zealand once had an essentially free education system up to tertiary level – this was also in the days of plentiful part time employment as well. Our economy is much more productive now than in the past and with a highly educated population, will become more so. The main reason we can’t afford it is we keep on giving tax cuts to the very rich, and so much of our economy is now owned by overseas and private interests.
The Alliance has calculated the cost of our policy and if we make some changes, this is affordable. It would mean raising the personal income tax on high earners, and in some other areas. We approach it from the idea that our society needs to have a reciprocal approach – we support young students when they are getting an education, and they contribute back when they are earning and using their skills. The other benefit is this encourages all people to try and get an education, is fair and universal, and ends the massive burden of student loans on young people.