“Another Blow to Disadvantaged Students”

The New Zealand Association of Private Education Providers (NZAPEP) questions how the Labour led Government can pledge to introduce a “universal student allowance” costing an estimated $210 million per annum and at the same time announce to tertiary providers cuts to funding for Training Opportunities and Youth Training funding.

Many private providers who provide programmes in the Training Opportunities and Youth Training areas have had their funding cut because of what can only be described as a “bungle” by the Government in reducing expenditure for 2009 by around 7.6 million, and yet the Government sees fit to pledge expenditure of $210 million annually, if elected.

The cut in funding for providers means that quality of courses will suffer and the disadvantaged students who traditionally enrol in Training Opportunities and Youth Training courses will once slip through the gap.

This is another example of the Government making decisions which affect a group of students without any thought for the students’ welfare.

ends

© Scoop Media