AUT students shocked by National’s Fee Rise Pledge

AUT students shocked by National’s Fee Rise Pledge

AUT students were shocked to be informed last week by National Party Leader John Key that under a National Government there would no restrictions on fee increases. Mr Key made the statement during a speech to the AUT Business School Breakfast Club.

“Students already face significant costs in attending University, a return to the fee increases of the 1990’s would further burden an already indebted generation” stated Jan Herman, President of the Auckland Student Movement at AUT University (AuSM).

Under the previous National Government tertiary fees were unrestricted and University fees increased by an average of 180% between 1992 and 1999.

“Out of control fee increases are simply not a sustainable way of addressing the legacy of previous Government underfunding.”

“Student debt will reach $10 billion dollars next year, under a National government this would skyrocket further.”

“Students need policies that address the real costs of studying, that adequately fund Tertiary Institutions to provide quality courses and that ensure that they don’t have to take on significant levels of debt in the process” concluded Jan Herman.

ENDS

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