Tertiary Savings Scheme Welcomed

A private working group’s suggestion of a savings scheme for tertiary education is welcome, but the political youth group ACTivists say that any scheme must be both voluntary and administered by the private sector.

“Tertiary education is an expensive investment in a young person’s future, even with the state funding over 70% of study costs. Any tool which could better equip people to cover the costs of a tertiary education should be welcomed with open arms” Mr Middleton said.

“ACTivists endorse the idea of a voluntary savings scheme to help those who would otherwise struggle to afford a tertiary education further their studies without drawing on a student loan” Mr Middleton said.

“The idea that education is going to be entirely government funded is one that even the Alliance are giving up on. The Alliance’s complete lack of influence over tertiary education policy makes it clear that this is as good as tertiary education gets under Labour.”

Mr Middleton said that any savings scheme should only accept voluntary contributions and should be administered by the private sector, allowing people to make a choice about whether to save and avoiding the risk of political interference.

“ACTivists will welcome any realistic recommendation which could reduce student loan debt, especially when the level of debt has doubled under the Labour/Alliance/Green government”.

ENDS

For more information, contact:
Gavin Middleton
(+64) (021) 505495
president@activists.org.nz
http://www.activists.org.nz

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