Education - Tertiary
Not set out on their website.
Establishing a universal student allowance, at the level of the unemployment benefit, for all full-time students Work towards establishing a public ‘fee-free’ tertiary education system Apply zero real rate of interest to student loans
Maintain a simplified, capped tuition fee structure to provide certainty as to fee levels to students throughout the duration of their studies No further interest will be charged for those with student loans who reside in New Zealand Conduct a specific review of the funding arrangements for medical and dental students Progressively increase parental income thresholds so that at least half of all fulltime students will receive a student allowance Increase the number of bonded scholarships which assist students with the costs of fees
Abolish Community Education courses run by tertiary institutions Freeze government spending on student enrolment in sub-degree certificate and diploma courses Introduce spending controls across all tertiary funding Set student retention and completion requirements for the continued funding of courses Make all net interest payments on student loans tax deductible against earned income
Introduce the first step towards a universal student allowance and proceed over three years to full implementation Increase the proportion of the tertiary tuition subsidy to at least that of the 1998 budget, in real terms Increase the proportion of tertiary tuition subsidies for specific courses to increase the number of appropriately qualified graduates Review the costs of gaining initial medical qualifications, including exploring the option of a 'bonding' system for medical students who are willing to trade-off student loan abatements for staying in New Zealand
Commission research into the long-term impact of student loan debt on the life choices of graduates Establish a system of scholarships between tertiary providers and the private sector Establish higher entrance standards for universities and provide funding incentives for universities to limit entry on the basis of academic performance, to shift the emphasis from quantity to quality Increase the government’s contribution to the costs of vocational courses in fields facing a shortage of qualified personnel.