Half student bursaries go in flatting costs

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 24

Half student bursaries go in flatting costs

PA Wellington Students are spending more than half, and in some cases all of their bursaries, on accommodation alone, the University Students’ Association j has told the Government.] (" In a report to the Minister of Education, | Mr Lange, and the Associate Minister, Mr t Goff, | the association has recommended an increase ip the tertiary accommodation grant from $37.50 to $47.50 a week. I I This, added to j the standard tertiary buifsarly of $4l, would (giv]e students living, away from home an income of $88.5'0

a week. The association said last year rent was the principal item of,student spending, on average! taking 57 per cent, I $44.80, of their weekly income , of $78.50 ] J 537.50 , accommodation allowance: and , $4l burisary), '■ !| '' ■ k -j h i However, the iaccommoi.dation grant was also exi pected to contribute to 1 heating, lighting, telephone and laundry, which brought the amount spent hoh accommodation to $57 !; a! week. ' ■ : ! ! ■. I, The situation, was- even worse for students living in hostels; the report said. !On average, | - in 1987,

I ' ' • ■ ■:■'!' students were '! paying $99.30 in hostel fees which' covered rent, lighting, heating and laundry: The fees have risen i for i 988.;. ■ ; •. i , | The substantial increase; in: accommodation costs and.■!the dramatic idecrease in the supply of low-cost flats is perhaps the issue that , affects Students the most; ~ i | With the rent! consuming 5p to 75 per cent of studept incomes, students living away from home dre facing an unnecessary burden of debt and stress!, foe report said. I | “While' we recognise that the Labour Govern-

ment has increased the accommodation grant, this has not equalled tfi.e ‘explosion’ of costs since the end bfi the |rerit freeze,” trie association paid. 1 1- 1 • | The. declining value of the bursary compared with the cost jof living meant, ihcrjeas ng numbers of students were being ; forceci tp take up detrimental in-term ,work. , Financial ! . problems were; the most frequently cited | reason fori students withdrawing' from tertiary study I and !fbr|| countless more the unavailability of adequate support them from further, education, the report said. .