Media Release 7 May 2001

For immediate release

National 'vision' a sequel of an old horror movie

Alliance Education Spokesperson Liz Gordon says that the recently released National Party taskforce on education is "an amazing grabbag of excuses for raising student fees".

"National's plans to allow students to pay fees by quarterly instalment is designed to make higher fees more palatable" said Dr Gordon.

"While they claim to see tertiary education as an investment, there is little to no commitment to increase government funding."

"As in the 1990s, any shortfall is going to be met with an increase in student fees."

"While National make some commitment to look at the reinstatement of universal allowances, it is clear that this cost will be met by a substantial increase in fees".

"Additionally, it appears that any additional scholarships will be funded by a decrease in EFTS funding for some subjects.

"National have learnt nothing from the student loan disaster they created over the 1990s. There is now clear evidence that the levels of debt carried by many students are near impossible to pay back."

"National's only solution is to push the fees component of a student loan up, up and up." said Dr Gordon.

ENDS

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