ATSA launches ‘Education for Life’ consultation

Aotearoa Tertiary Students Association (ATSA)

MEDIA RELEASE

Date: October 2003

Attention: Political/Education Reporters

Embargo: 20 October 2003

ATSA launches ‘Education for Life’ community consultation.

Aotearoa Tertiary Students Association will be holding a series of three meetings to engage with the community over the issue of student support.

“The long awaited tertiary students support review has arrived and we have identified that changes to the student support review have far reaching implications for the whole of Aotearoa/New Zealand,” Julie Pettett, President of ATSA says.

The series of three forums will be held in Napier, (Taradale), 28 October, Taupo 29 October and Nelson 31 October.

“The student support review has been a long time coming, and there are many inconsistencies with student support that impact, not just on students, but on the wider community, one example is parental income testing for the student allowance, the question is why do students up to 25 years old still have to rely on their parents to live, and why have the income thresholds not been adjusted even with the rate of inflation.”

“There are more and more people entering into tertiary education. It is becoming a necessity to have a tertiary qualification to obtain work. That makes this review so important for communities that have real need of an educated workforce. If we have to wait ten years for the next time, people really need to be aware and have their say as to what goes into this review.” Pettett says.

The government will be analysing submissions on five principles.

1. That New Zealand’s tertiary education system makes the best contribution to National development.
2. Ensure equity and fairness.
3. Ensure student support is financially sustainable.
4. Ensure tertiary education is affordable to students.
5. Be consistent with other social assistance.

“If you are unemployed you are assured of an income. Why must students be the only sector of the population that must borrow to eat and sleep? It is wildly inconsistent for the government to not address this issue” Pettett says.

ENDS

For further comment, contact:

Julie Pettett

ATSA National President

Cell phone 029 939 1417 (04) 9391417

The Aotearoa Tertiary Students’ Association

Representing Polytechnic, University and Wananga students Matt Davies Support Officer Aotearoa Tertiary Students Association (04) 939 1417

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