United's support on student allowances welcomed

Students and their families welcome United Future support on student allowances.

The announcement by United Future supporting a change to draconian student allowance regulations is a welcome light in the dark.

“Changes to the allowance scheme suggested by United Future leader Peter Dunne and education spokesperson Bernie Ogilvy, in particular changing the notion that students should be means tested on their parents’ income until the age of 25, reflects the position of ATSA on this issue since 1992,” acting President of ATSA Waireka Kereopa says.

The Aotearoa Tertiary Students Association held a series of forums throughout Aotearoa New Zealand that highlighted the allowances area of student support as in dire need of change.

“The fact that the allowance system in New Zealand has not been seriously looked at for over a decade is of major concern to ATSA and formed a large part of our submission to the student support review, it is nice that politicians are finally picking up on our reasoned, logical proposals,” Waireka says.

ATSA firmly believes that the student allowance scheme should be brought into line with other benefits, including reasonable accommodation supplements reflecting true rental costs, eliminating parental income testing over time, and that more money be available for families who have more than one student in tertiary education.

For a full copy of the ATSA ‘Student Support Review’ submission please contact ATSA , e-mail info@atsa.org.nz.

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