Thanks, But Students need more

22/05/2008

Thanks, But Students need more

Otago Polytechnic Students' Association Co-Presidents are glad to see today's budget containing improvements to the student allowance scheme. And urge the government to continue.

"It's a good thing to see the government is still interested in improving funding to tertiary education, as well as improving students access to allowances in the same instance" OPSA Co-President Ryan Ward said today.

"While the current changes are heplful, the reality is that students are still forced to borrow simply to eat and more change is still needed" Mr ward continued.

These statements followed today's budget announcements to lower to the age where a student is consider enough of an adult to get a full allowance from 25 to 24, and a 10 percent increase to the parental income threshold where students' allowances are cut.

"This will give more students access to student allowances but will not be enough to create significant and meaningful change" Co-President Meegan Cloughley noted.

The governments of the future need to understand that this issue will not go away without a full resolution; a universal student allowance is something that all political parties should be considering for this countries future.

ENDS