Government Must Slay the Debt Dragon

Media Release
20 September 2001
For Immediate Use

Government Must Slay the Debt Dragon

“The 'no-interest-while-studying' policy can not be as good as the government gets in controlling student debt,” said Auckland University Students’ Association Education Vice-President, Stephanie Thompson, today.

“While the interest-write off scheme is saving current and former students a lot of money in future loan repayments, the government must work towards alleviating the real causes of debt,” said Ms Thompson.
“Tuition fees still remain between $3 500 to $10 000, and less than a third of students at the University of Auckland qualify for an allowance due to parental means testing of students allowances,” said Ms Thompson.
“It is unacceptable that costs of tuition are so far out of the reach of most New Zealanders that they are forced to take out loans and a lack of access to allowances only further compounds this problem for many students whose parents can not or will not support them until they are 25,” said Ms Thompson.
“The Government will only be able to slay the debt dragon by reducing tuition fees and increasing access to allowances,” concluded Ms Thompson.

ENDS

For further Information Contact:

Stephanie Thompson
Education Vice-President
Ph 309 0798 x 204

© Scoop Media