Grey Power Press Release

Grey Power Press Release

Grey Power wants the Government to reconsider a seven year loan cap for post graduate medical students.

The Government now requires up to 30 percent of all medical students to fund their own final year studies which could cost them up to $15000 each.

Almost half of the affected students say they have no way of paying for their final year of study before graduation.

Newly elected Grey Power national vice president Tom O’Connor said, while he was aware that there were abuses of the student loan system, there were more efficient ways of dealing with the problem than cutting post graduate students loose in their final year.

“We know there are people who come to New Zealand, take out student loans and sign up for endless trivial courses year after year until they qualify for national superannuation but these young people are not in that category. These are the brightest of the best in the country. Those who did not make the grade have dropped out, leaving these few on the brink of graduating as much needed professionals in the medical profession, Abandoning them at this stage makes no economic or social sense at all.”

Mr O’Connor said he was aware of the problem facing the Government but it would be simple to nominate qualifying post graduate courses to prevent money being wasted on trivia and bond the students to work in New Zealand for a few years until the loans were repaid.

“We are not talking about basket weaving, flower arranging or national flag designing courses here. These are final year courses at a very high level to equip these youngsters to play their part in our medical profession of the future.”

Mr O’Connor said it made no sense to be importing qualified medical professionals from other parts of the world, no matter how well qualified, and deny our own young people the opportunity to complete their final year of studies.

“These youngsters already speak New Zealand English and know our unique culture. They don’t have to be taught these things as many migrant professionals do. That is not a negative comment about the high calibre of migrant doctors who come here but the simple reality that we have a group of youngsters who require a little assistance to graduate as much needed doctors. It seems illogical to deny them that when the answer is really quite simple.”

ENDS

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