Training cuts aimed at midwives, nurses, teachers

Training Incentive Allowance cuts aimed at midwives, nurses, teachers.

National’s cutting of the Training Incentive Allowance will only hit those who are motivated to improve their lives.
“It’s tall poppy syndrome of the worst kind. The Government won’t help those who stand out of the crowd and enrol in life changing education,” says Ralph Springett, President of Massey University Extramural Students’ Society.

Midwives, nurses and teachers are among the professions that solo mothers will struggle to afford training in. The TIA would pay up to $3,862.00 of actual course costs per year. Without this support many once-eligible students will not be able to make ends meet. As well as high course costs, degrees such as Midwifery require on-call placements throughout the year. Childcare becomes unaffordable if all spare cash is spent on course fees, so potential success stories become shattered dreams.

“This group of students has the potential to make a real difference. Not just to their own lives but to New Zealand society, as role models who have made it against the odds. It’s like National is telling these people to just stay at home on the benefit - that they are not really cut out for higher education,” says Mr Springett.

Based on past figures, hundreds of potential Massey students will be affected. Those on the invalids’ benefit and widows’ benefit as well as the DPB will now not be eligible for support at a defining time in their lives.

ENDS

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