Joint Media Statement of:

Otago University Students Association and
Otago Polytechnic Students Association

Alliance Tertiary Policy Throws Down The Gauntlet

Otago student leaders welcome the release of the Alliance party tertiary education policy today, and hope that other parties will also commit to policy in the coming weeks.

"It is good to see that one party is trying to raise substantive issues in this campaign. We hope that the focus of the election will continue to be on policy and not presentation," said Michelle Watt, Vice President of the Otago Polytechnic Students' Association.

"We have been campaigning on campuses this year for universal student living allowances. We hope that other parties will join the Alliance in advocating for movement in this crucial area of student support," said Katie Grace, Education and Welfare Vice President of the Otago University Students' Association.

"Students have welcomed the fees freeze and cutting of interest on loans for full time and low income part time students, however they had hoped for more from the Labour led government, and certainly believe that the next government should make universal allowances a key priority for student support," said Ms Grace.

"Polytechnic students will respond well to the prioritisation of regional polytechnics, and the proposed cuts to profit making Private Training Establishments (PTEs)," said Ms Watt. "Unregulated competition in tertiary education has seen duplication and wastage, as profit making PTEs try to gut the regional polytechnic infrastructure."

"This policy sets the scene for a robust discussion of tertiary education at the election. We congratulate the Alliance, look forward to policy announcements from other parties, and encourage others, especially the Labour party, to also make some movement in the area of universal allowances," concluded Katie Grace.

Ends.

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